Strongyloides stercoralis found in imported dogs, household dogs and kennel dogs in Iceland

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report cases of the intestinal parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs in Iceland. The nematode was diagnosed in 20 (0.6%) of imported dogs in quaratine in Iceland during 1989- 2016. Household dogs: The first case of S. stercoralis infection diagnosed outside quaratine in Iceland was in an unhealthy household puppy purchased from an Icelandic breeding kennel (Kennel A) in 2012. A total of nine puppies purchased from Kennel A, and two dogs which had contact with dogs from the kennel, were diagnosed with S. stercoralis. Kennel dogs: In 2012 S. stercoralis was confirmed in dozens of dogs in Kennel A. Follow-up examinations after anthelmintic treatments indicated a successful removal of worms in imported and household dogs. In spite of more than a dozen anthelmintic treatment actions and other arrangements in Kennel A since 2012, recurrent infections have repeatedly been confirmed, the last one in 2015. The nematode is believed to have been introduced to the breeding kennel with an imported dog, in spite of anthelmintic treatments in quarantine.