Population dynamics of dogs and cats and control of infectious, parasitic and zoonotic diseases

Coordinator: Andreia Vitor Couto do Amaral

Despite efforts to reduce abandonment and mistreatment of pets, neglect of these animals is still common in Brazil, both by the population and by government entities. Brazil continues to be one of the countries with the highest number of abandonments, infectious diseases and semi-domiciled and stray dogs and cats, which are also causes of zoonoses and high morbidity rates from infectious and parasitic diseases in these species. It is important to remember that dogs and cats live with humans and share the same "urban niche". This coexistence has motivated several researchers to, in recent decades, develop investigations in order to understand the extent of the connection between urban humans and companion animals and zoonoses. Furthermore, knowledge of the characteristics of the canine and feline population, including their estimated number, serves as a basis for the development of population dynamics programs and also for the control of other zoonoses. Knowledge of the indicators related to these animal populations becomes necessary for the planning, execution and evaluation of public health and animal welfare actions. Thus, this research project has as its main objectives to investigate and evaluate the populations of dogs and cats and their relationship with humans and to investigate infectious diseases and diseases with zoonotic potential, in order to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of these species in urban areas as well as related diseases, providing animal welfare, population control of dogs and cats and control of zoonoses and infectious and parasitic diseases.