Diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus infection in dogs
Walters, T.M.; Craig, P.S.
Veterinary Record 131(2): 39-40
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1509663 Document Number: 397267
Preliminary application of a recently developed coproantigen test in the hydatid control area of south Wales, UK, is reported. Faecal samples collected from dogs tethered overnight were stored at -20 degrees C until the faecal supernatants were tested by an ELISA using anti-Echinococcus antibodies. Six of 71 dogs (8.5%) tested gave strong positive ELISA values and included 3 dogs on one farm which were shown after purgation to be heavily infected by E. granulosus. It is expected that this convenient and highly sensitive test will be of great value in epidemiological studies and in the assessment of hydatid control programmes.