Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Citrus aurantium extracts kill dog tapeworms in lab and dog tests
By Abd-Elaziz, Aliaa A et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2026·Department of Pharmacology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of Citrus aurantium extracts and limonene on Dipylidium caninum tegument: In vitro and in vivo study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs infected with a common tapeworm called Dipylidium caninum were treated with extracts from the peel and seeds of the bitter orange fruit (Citrus aurantium) and its active ingredient, limonene. The treatments showed promising results, with the peel extract achieving a 92% success rate in killing the worms, and complete effectiveness by the end of the study. This natural treatment worked well and was comparable to a standard medication called praziquantel. The study suggests that using Citrus aurantium peel extract could be a safe and effective alternative for treating tapeworm infections in dogs.
People also search for: dog tapeworm treatment · Citrus aurantium for dogs · natural remedies for dog worms
Abstract
Dipylidiosis is a common zoonotic infection of dogs caused by Dipylidium caninum. Infected dogs were treated using ethanolic extracts of the peel and seed of Citrus aurantium, as well as its main active compound (limonene). In vitro, peel and seed extracts (12.5, 25, 50 mg/ml) as well as limonene (30, 60, 120 µl/ml) induced worm immobility. Complete mortality of worms (100 %) was achieved 100 % mortality after 4 h for peel extracts and limonene and 6 h for seed extracts. Histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy showed significant structural damage in treated worms, including peeling, vesiculation, ulceration, fissures, and tegumental distortion. In vivo, dogs treated with peel extract at 150 and 300 mg/kg achieved high efficacy rates of 72.33 % and 92 %, respectively, and reached 100 % efficacy, comparable to that of praziquantel, by the end of the experiment. The extract's effectiveness was dose- and time-dependent. In conclusion, these findings suggest that C. aurantium peel extract provides a safe, sustainable, and effective natural alternative to synthetic drugs for treating D. caninum infections in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41166924/