UK report of tapeworm Mesocestoides litteratus

Abstract

Tapeworms in the genus Mesocestoides infect wild carnivores and domestic dogs in many European countries but, as far as we are aware, the only record of these parasites in the UK is from a study on helminths of wild cats in Scotland almost 40 years ago.1 We wish to report a case of recurrent infection with Mesocestoides litteratus , a species widespread in Mediterranean regions, in a gundog in Gloucestershire. The dog – a one-year-old untravelled female springer spaniel – was seen in early September 2018 at Stow Veterinary Surgeons. It had numerous tapeworm segments in the faeces, along with weight loss and compensatory feeding amounting to twice its normal food intake. As a working dog it picked up pheasant, duck, partridge, woodcock and pigeon and regularly scavenged gamebird carcases; feathers and small bones were noted in the faeces, which, on …