The prevalence and epidemiology of cestodes in dogs in Clwyd, Wales. I. Farm dogs.

The results of a survey of 51 farms in Clwyd carried out between 1981 and 1983 to elucidate the prevalence and epidemiology of dog cestodes are reported. Taeniid species were obtained from 24 (17.1%) of the 140 dogs which purged. Taenia ovis and T. hydatigena appeared to depend largely on dogs scavenging from carcasses for the perpetuation of their life-cycles, whereas T. multiceps was found only in dogs on two farms where sheep heads formed the main diet of the dogs. Dog husbandry in relation to cestode epidemiology is discussed, and recommendations for control are made.