Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk of pet dogs catching Echinococcus tapeworm in rural Hokkaido
By Irie, Takao et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2019·Department of Infectious Diseases, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: High probability of pet dogs encountering the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis in a rural area in Hokkaido, Japan.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of pet dogs in a rural area of Hokkaido, Japan, were tested for a parasite called Echinococcus multilocularis, which can be harmful to both dogs and humans. Out of 98 dogs, seven were found to be infected, and one dog was even shedding the parasite's eggs. Interestingly, three of the infected dogs were not allowed to roam freely outdoors, suggesting that even pets kept at home can be at risk if they come into contact with infected wildlife. To keep your dog safe, regular check-ups and deworming treatments are recommended to prevent the spread of this parasite.
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Abstract
Surveillance of Echinococcus multilocularis in 98 pet dogs kept in a rural area of Hokkaido, Japan, from March 2018 to March 2019 suggested infection in seven dogs (7.1%) by E. multilocularis-specific copro-DNA examination, and one of them excreted E. multilocularis eggs that were identified by sequence analyses. Among the infected dogs, three were not allowed to run free when outdoors. Based on detection of E. multilocularis eggs in fox feces collected from roadsides in the same area, dogs kept in rural areas may have a high probability of becoming infected after preying on infected voles along such roadsides, even in domesticated settings. Therefore, examination along with periodic deworming administration is considered necessary to prevent transmission from dogs to owners.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31548476/