NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN DOG BREEDING KENNELS IN THE NETHERLANDS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TOXOCARA

Faecal samples from 286 adult dogs and 159 pups and dust and soil samp les from 32 dog breeding kennels in the Netherlands were examined for nematode eggs. Dogs that shed nematode eggs were found in 41% of the k ennels. The kennel prevalence of nematode infection of adult dogs was 33%. The kennel prevalence for infection of adult dogs and pups with n ematode species was 21% and 48% for Toxocara canis, respectively, 29% and 0% for Trichuris vulpis, and 20% and 0% for Toxascaris leonina. Ke nnels with more than two litters per year and with regular import of n ew animals had a significantly higher prevalence of T. canis (P<0.01 a nd p<0.05 respectively). T. vulpis infections in adult dogs occurred s ignificantly more often in kennels that used deworming products other than benzimidazoles (p<0.05). Embryonated T. canis ova were recovered from 20% of the house and kennel dust samples and from 50% of the soil samples. This survey shows that the nematode infection rate in dog br eeding kennels is high. Better deworming strategies should be used to improve the health status of the dogs and to reduce the risk of zoonot ic infection in humans.