ECHINOCOCCUS-GRANULOSUS INFECTIONS IN THE DOGS OF KATHMANDU, NEPAL

The prevalence, incidence and risk factors of infection by Echinococcu s granulosus were studied in the domestic and street dogs of Kathmandu , Nepal. Using an ELISA coproantigen test as a screening method, the h ighest prevalence (5/88=5.7%) was seen in domestic dogs from an area o f the city used for slaughtering livestock. A prevalence of 1.8% (3/17 1) was found in domestic dogs seen at eight veterinary clinics distrib uted around the city. Although none of the 73 street dogs sampled in t he ELISA screening survey was positive, three of 20 street dogs killed with poison as part of the city's dog-control programme harboured fro m one to five adult worms. As none of 99 dogs treated with an anthelmi ntic was found re-infected 3 months later, it was impossible to calcul ate accurately the incidence of infection over a 3-month period. Infor mation about the feeding, sleeping and roaming practices of the dogs w as also gathered using questionnaires and direct observations.