The cestodes of foxhounds and foxes in Powys, mid-Wales

Cestodes were found in 129 of 875 foxhounds from 20 packs in Powys, mid-Wales, examined by purging in 1983-1988, in the following order of prevalence: Taenia hydatigena in 57 hounds (6.51%), Echinococcus granulosus in 27 (3.09%), Dipylidium caninum in 25 (2.86%), T. ovis in 14 (1.60%), T. pisiformis in 10 (1.14%), T. serialis in five (0.57%) and T. multiceps in four (0.46%). Of 197 foxes examined by autopsy, 22 harboured cestodes: two (1.02%) had E. granulosus, nine (4.57%) T. polyacantha, eight (4.06%) T. pisiformis, two (1.02%) T. serialis, one (0.51%) D. caninum and one (0.51%) Mesocestoides sp. This is the first definite report of T. polyacantha in British foxes. The results are compared with those of previous surveys in Powys and in other parts of Wales, and the reasons for changes in prevalence are discussed.