The capacity of dogs to serve as reservoirs for gastrointestinal disease in children.

A total of 40 Canine faecal specimens were collected from 10 different halting sites in the Dublin area. Specimens were taken from the site surface. The sites were determined by laboratory confirmed gastroenteritis infections reported in children. Each stool specimen was primarily examined for Giardia and Cryptosporidium but was also analysed for the presence of bacterial enteropathogens. The occurrence of canine zoonoses was not established, however the 40% prevalence of Giardia coupled with the 30% prevalence of bacterial enteropathogens on these sites support the supposition that dogs are a potential source of gastroenteritis infections in children within the travelling community. The potential dangers of zoonotic transmission as demonstrated by this survey must be acknowledged.