Rates of reinfection with Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, Taenia ovis and other cestodes in a rural dog population in Uruguay

Abstract A survey was undertaken to determine both the prevalence of, and reinfection rates with Echinococcus granulosus and other cestodes in the Department of Florida, Uruguay. Baseline prevalence was determined in 303 rural dogs which then, in 4 groups, were re-examined 2, 4, 8 or 12 months later. Baseline prevalences for E. granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, Taenia ovis and Dipylidium caninum were 13.2, 13.9, 2.3 and 13.2%, respectively. The frequency distribution of E. granulosus was over-dispersed. Dogs in the population became infected with E. granulosus between 2 and 4 months after treatment (prevalences at 2, 4, 8 and 12 months were 0, 6.8, 18.6 and 27.9%, respectively. There was no indication that there was a predisposition of dogs to infection with the Odds Ratio being 1.0. Dogs were infected with T. hydatigena and D. caninum within 2 months and with T. ovis between 2 and 4 months after treatment. The implications of these different rates of reinfection in the dog population on anthelmintic control strategies against cystic echinococcosis are discussed.