Ovine cysticercosis in the Albany region of Western Australia. 1. Survey of tapeworms of rural dogs.

A survey of the cestode infections of 304 dogs from 134 properties in the Albany area of Western Australia was performed. Purgation was induced by oral administration of arecoline and the purge examined for cestodes. The cestodes found and their infection rates were: Dipylidium caninum 16.4%; Taenia spp 36.5%; T. ovis 8.9%; T. hydatigena 15.1%; T. pisiformis 15.1%; T. serialis 2.3%; Echinococcus granulosus 0.7%; Questionnaires completed on 133 of the 134 properties at the time the dogs were purged showed that:--73.6% of farmers were feeding raw sheep-meat and 24.8% were feeding raw offal to their dogs; dogs were treated on a regular basis with a cestocide on 23.3% of properties; dogs were allowed to roam on 21.8% of the properties and stray dogs were considered prevalent on 23.3% of properties. Suggestions for control of Cysticercus ovis are made based on an interpretation of the significance of these findings.