Echinococcus, a Multi-Faceted Issue: What Canadian Veterinary Teams…

Presented by Emily Jenkins, PhD, DVM, BSc (Hons), Christopher Fernandez Prada, DVM, MSc, PhD

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Questions

1. The lab reports “taeniid eggs” on a routine annual fecal flotation from an otherwise healthy adult dog. What are these? *

Echinococcus canadensis

E. multilocularis

Taenia pisiformis

Any of the above

2. What test should you request as a follow-up? *

Another fecal flotation

Fecal sedimentation

Copro-PCR

Abdominal ultrasound

3. The lab reports that the sample has tested positive for Echinococcus spp. What are your next steps? *

No action required; these parasites cause no clinical signs in dogs

Treat the dog

Treat the dog and prevent access to intermediate hosts

Treat the dog, prevent access to intermediate hosts and inform owner of zoonotic potential

4. What do dogs ingest to become infected with adult E. multilocularis tapeworms in their intestine? *

Canid feces

Cervid feces

Rodent feces

Rodents

5. What is the appropriate management of a dog at high risk of developing intestinal infection with E. multilocularis? *

Monthly treatment with adult cestocide

Monthly treatment with larval cestocide

Treatment with adult cestocide within 6 weeks of exposure

There is no pharmaceutical treatment

6. An owner contacts you because their dog passed a 10 cm long tapeworm, they googled it and now they are very worried about Echinococcus. What do you tell them? *

They should bring the dog in immediately

They should seek medical attention

They should treat the dog with an adult cestocide

They should consider what their dog may be eating

They should bring in the worm and/or a fecal sample

Last 3 answer choices

All of the above

7. You are doing a laparotomy to remove a sock from a Labradoodle and you see multiple white/yellow nodules in the liver. What are your next steps? *

Remove a piece of affected liver and fix it in formalin

Remove a piece of affected liver and keep it the fridge or freezer

Remove a piece of affected liver and fix it in ethanol

Immediately close this dog due to risk of echinococcosis

First 3 answer choices

All of the above

8. One of your boarders has diarrhea, and you send a sample for parasitology, expecting Giardia. However, after starting metronidazole, the results come back positive for E. multilocularis. How should the kennel be disinfected? *

Spray it with the usual spray for exam tables

Spray it with the usual spray for exam tables and leave it for the recommended contact time

Remove as much organic matter as possible and clean with a 10% solution of the bleach you found under the kitchen sink

Remove as much organic matter as possible, clean with a 10% fresh bleach solution and leave for at least 20 minutes.

9. You have just diagnosed a dog with early alveolar echinococcosis. The owner wants to euthanize the dog due to fear for their family’s health and concerns over surgical costs. What do you advise? *

Euthanasia is appropriate for public health considerations

Euthanasia is appropriate if surgery is not an option

Euthanasia is appropriate for welfare considerations

Euthanasia is not appropriate

10. What defines a high-risk dog for developing alveolar echinococcosis (caused by E. multilocularis)? *

History of coprophagia

Off-leash access to the outdoors

Contact with wildlife (coyotes and foxes)

All of the above