Parasites, politics and people: a meeting report

The event focussed on two key parasites endemic to the UK, that have significant political relevance, namely Echinococcus granulosus (Dog Tapeworm) and Toxocara spp. (roundworm). Both E. granulosus and Toxocara spp. are zoonotic parasites that are in need of educational control programmes within the UK. The question is who should hold responsibility for controlling these parasites — the government or pet owners?

In the case of Toxocara spp., studies show that only 30% of pet owners know about the infection and how to prevent it. The control of this parasite is relatively easy in some ways, having a direct lifecycle and being easily treated by anthelmintics. Control measures such poopa-scooping and regular anthelmintic treatment, combined with hygiene factors such as washing hands, covering sandpits, using gloves while gardening and washing and peeling home grown vegetables, would dramatically reduce the seroprevalence to this parasite in the UK.

E. granulosus fares better with more than 50% of pet owners knowing about the infection and how to prevent it. This, in part, could be thanks to the Welsh control programmes. Although initially successful, Copro-ELISA testing from 1993 to 2008 showed an increased prevalence of 10.8% in farm dogs in Wales. Furthermore, studies suggest that E. granulosus is far more widespread in the UK than was previously thought. Treatment of hydatid disease in humans is fundamentally difficult with a high economic burden.