THE WILD DOG (LYCAON-PICTUS) - A NEW HOST FOR ANCYLOSTOMA-CANINUM

Faecal nematode egg counts performed on one captive and 49 free-rangin g wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) revealed the presence of eggs of Ancylosto ma spp. in 12 (24%) of the animals. The captive wild dog pup showed an orexia, general malaise, pale mucous membranes and black stools. Adult male and female Ancylostoma caninum were recovered from an approximat ely 3-month-old pup which died of distemper-like disease and a 9-year- old severely debilitated captive wild dog. A single adult A. caninum w as also recovered from the intestines of a free-ranging wild dog in th e Kruger National Park. These findings confirm the wild dog to be a ho st for A. caninum.