ECHINOCOCCUS-GRANULOSUS INFECTIONS OF DOGS IN THE DURAZNO REGION OF URUGUAY

The prevalence and distribution of Echinococcus granulosus in domestic dogs was examined in three dog populations in the Durazno region of U ruguay. The prevalence was 19.7 per cent in 704 dogs successfully purg ed with arecoline hydrobromide. Higher prevalences were detected in do gs from the rural area (30.0 per cent) and the village of La Paloma (2 5.9 per cent) than in the town of Sarandi del Yi (7.9 per cent). The f requency distribution of E granulosus was overdispersed (k, the negati ve binomial parameter = 0.08), with only a few animals harbouring heav y infections. The results of a questionnaire showed that the prevalenc e was greatest in male dogs, in dogs that were not kennelled, in dogs that had access to fields and in dogs that were not dosed with praziqu antel. Dogs that were given raw sheep offal by their owners were no mo re likely to be parasitised than other dogs; this may reflect the inac curacy of the owners' replies, or that the dogs were being infected ou tside their home.