[Endoparasite infection in stray and abandoned dogs in southern Switzerland]

At their entry into the animal domicile, "La Stampa", in Lugano (canton Tessin), 217 stray dogs and 154 unwanted dogs were examined for infections with intestinal parasites, filariae, Babesia and Leishmania. The following techniques were used for detection of intestinal parasites: combined sedimentation-flotation, MIFC technique and scotch tape adherence test. Prevalences of helminth egg excretion in stray dogs and in unwanted dogs, respectively, were as follows: 34% and 22% for Trichuris, 17% and 14% for Toxocara, 3% and 5% for hookworms, 4% and 0% for taeniids. Dipylidium, Toxascaris and Capillaria were diagnosed sporadically. Samples positive for taeniids were further tested for the presence of Echinococcus coproantigens in a sandwich ELISA: one of 9 dogs was strongly positive. This dog was euthanized for security reasons and upon dissection, 11 Taenia hydatigena and more than 10,000 gravid Echinococcus granulosus worms were found. Microfilariae were detected in the blood of 3 stray dogs and one unwanted dog by the Difil-test. In all 4 cases the infective species was Dirofilaria immitis as confirmed by morphology, acid phosphatase activity analysis of microfilariae and by detection of specific antigens in blood plasma by ELISA. Specific antibodies against antigen of Leishmania infantum could not be detected in any of these dogs by ELISA. However, 3 stray dogs had specific antibodies against antigen of Babesia canis as demonstrated by IFAT.