Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anthelmintic resistance and worm infections in dogs from Portugal
By Batista, Cláudia Luís et al.·Published in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2024·Escola Superior Agrá·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Smells Like Anthelmintic Resistance-Gastrointestinal Prevalence, Burden and Diversity in Dogs from Portugal.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of shelter dogs in Portugal was tested for intestinal worms after being treated with deworming medications. Researchers found that about 22% of the dogs had parasites in their feces before treatment, and even after deworming, around 21% still had worms. The medications used, which included combinations of febendazole, pyrantel, and praziquantel, were not effective against some types of worms in a significant number of cases. This suggests that these worms may be developing resistance to the treatments. Pet owners should be aware of this potential issue and discuss effective deworming strategies with their veterinarians.
People also search for: dog deworming resistance · shelter dog intestinal worms · effective deworming for dogs
Abstract
Anthelmintic resistance has been documented worldwide, but few cases have been reported in dogs. Shelter dogs are a great opportunity to study intestinal helminths and assess their potential resistance to anthelmintic compounds. With these two goals in mind, 361 faecal samples were collected from dogs in 18 municipalities in Portugal, from 19 shelters and 11 private tutors. These samples were analysed using the Mini-FLOTAC before and 13 days after deworming. The percentage of faecal egg count reduction was calculated. Parasitic forms were identified in 22.4% of the samples collected:(10.5%),(8.0%), members of the family Ancylostomatidae (6.4%),(0.8%),(0.6%) and members of the family Taeniidae (0.3%). The first three nematode parasites showed the highest intensity of infection (2900, 1325, and 1265 eggs per gram, respectively). In the second faecal collection, parasites were present in 20.8% of the samples. The anthelmintics febendazole + pyrantel embonate + praziquantel and praziquantel + fenbendazole were ineffective forand members of the family Ancylostomatidae in 16.2% and 6.9% of the samples, respectively. The parasites identified are all potentially zoonotic. This study is the first to suggest a potential resistance ofto anthelmintics.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39338990/