title: Echinococcus granulosus and other intestinal helminths: current status of prevalence and management in rural dogs of eastern Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ascertain the prevalence of intestinal helminths in rural dogs from eastern Australia and Tasmania. Identify farm management practices contributing to the perpetuation and transmission of Echinococcus granulosus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helminth infection in dogs was determined microscopically through faecal flotation. Infection with E. granulosus was determined via faecal antigen-capture ELISA and coproPCR. Taeniid eggs were identified using molecular methods. Data on dog management and owner understanding of hydatid disease were collected via questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Faeces were collected from 1425 Australian rural dogs (1119 mainland; 306 Tasmania). Eggs of hookworms were most prevalent, up to 40.2%, followed by whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), up to 21.2%. Roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine) were least common, up to 6.1%. Taeniid eggs were found in 11 dogs (5 Taenia pisiformis; 2 T. serialis; 4 T. hydatigena); 2 of the T. hydatigena-infected dogs were also E. granulosus coproantigen-positive. Of the 45 dogs found to be E. granulosus coproantigen-positive, 24 were in Tasmania, 16 in NSW, 3 in Victoria and 2 in Queensland. Three Tasmanian coproantigen ELISA-positive dogs were also coproPCR-positive. The most common dog ration was commercial dry food, but half the owners fed raw meat to their dogs and some fed offal of lambs (8.9%) or mutton (7.8%). More than half (69%) of owners weighed their dogs before deworming. Few dewormed their dogs often enough to ensure they remained cestode-free and owners hunting wildlife usually left carcases where they were shot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E. granulosus is still present in Australian rural dogs, including Tasmania, but at low levels. Owner behaviour perpetuates transmission of cestodes.
authors: School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia. djjenkins@csu.edu.au.
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Jenkins
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Lievaart
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Boufana
authors: W S
authors: WS
authors: Lett
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bradshaw
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Armua-Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Echinococcus granulosus; cestodes; coproantigens; dogs; hydatid disease; intestinal helminths