A survey of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs illegally entering the UK (2015–2017)

BACKGROUND: This study involving non‐compliant, seized dogs entering the UK surveyed endoparasites detected in faecal samples. A focus was placed on taeniid infection as the detection of these tapeworms acts as a marker for failure of effective tapeworm treatment. METHODS: Individual faecal samples taken from 65 dogs over a 24‐month period were examined for helminth eggs, for protozoal oocysts and cysts, using a centrifugal flotation technique. Any sample presenting positive results for taeniid eggs had residual faeces examined using polymerase chain reaction to aid speciation of the tapeworm eggs. Additionally, a Baermann technique was used to assess faeces for lungworm larvae. RESULTS: Patent endoparasite infection was detected in 27.7% of dog faecal samples. No sample was positive for lungworm larvae. Five dogs were co‐infected with Isospora spp. and Toxocara canis. One dog sample was detected with taeniid eggs, identified as Taenia serialis. CONCLUSIONS: The taeniid‐positive dog indicated that appropriate tapeworm treatment may not have occurred, reinforcing the risk to the UK of illegally imported dogs potentially introducing Echinococcus multilocularis infection.