Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Echinococcosis infection rates in dogs in northwest Libya and risk
By Buishi, I E et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2005·Bioscience Research Institute and School of Environment and Life Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine echinococcosis in northwest Libya: assessment of coproantigen ELISA, and a survey of infection with analysis of risk-factors.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in northwest Libya found that about 22% of owned dogs tested positive for a parasite called Echinococcus granulosus, which can cause echinococcosis. Stray dogs had an even higher infection rate of 25.8%. Younger dogs, especially sheepdogs, were more likely to be infected. After treatment with praziquantel, the infection rate in owned dogs dropped significantly from 21.6% to 9% within 15 months. The study highlighted that factors like not restraining dogs and not regularly deworming them increased the risk of infection.
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Abstract
In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for canine echinococcosis in different endemic localities in the Tripoli area of northwest Libya, stray dogs were examined post-mortem, and owned dogs screened for Echinococcus granulosus infection using a standardised genus specific coproantigen ELISA. The prevalence of E. granulosus infection at necropsy in stray-dogs was 25.8% (15/58, 95% CI 15.3-39.0%), and 21.6% (72/334, 95% CI 17.3-26.4%) of owned dogs tested were positive by coproantigen ELISA. Sheepdogs appeared to have a significantly higher copro-positive prevalence (19/19 positive, p=0.003), compared to 23.6% of other dog classes (e.g. 52/220 guard dogs and household pets). Worm burdens in necropsied dogs ranged from 29 to 2900 (mean 1064) and were positively correlated to coproantigen ELISA OD values (r(s)=0.87, p<0.001), but negatively correlated with dog age (r(s)=-0.69, p=0.001). Dog age was a significant factor in copro-prevalence as there was an increasing coproantigen-positive tendency in younger dogs (< or =5 years, p=0.04). A total of 45/132 (34%, 95% CI 25.9-42.1%) of farms/homestead had at least one dog that was coproantigen positive. Overall copro-prevalence in dogs by locality varied, with Alkhums (Leptis-Magna) district having the highest copro-prevalence at 38.7% (24/62, 95% CI 26.6-50.8%) (p=0.001). Coproantigen testing of a cohort of owned dogs before and approximately 15 months after praziquantel treatment showed a significant decrease in the coproantigen positive rate from 21.6% (72/334) to 9% (21/233) post-treatment. The overall E. granulosus coproantigen positive rate ('re-infection rate') within the same cohort of dogs was 22 % (10/45) by 15 months post-treatment. Significant risk factors for a copro-positive owned dog were associated with non-restraint of dogs, and owners that did not de-worm their dogs. Home slaughtering of livestock and lack of knowledge about E. granulosus transmission were also significant risk factors for a canine coproantigen positive result.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15905032/