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Case Reports
. 2024 Apr;151(5):523-528.
doi: 10.1017/S0031182024000398. Epub 2024 Apr 4.

First report of apparent praziquantel resistance in Dipylidium caninum in Europe

Andreas W Oehm  1 , Anton Reiter  2 , Angela Binz  3 , Manuela Schnyder  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

First report of apparent praziquantel resistance in Dipylidium caninum in Europe

Andreas W Oehm et al. Parasitology. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Dipylidium caninum is a common tapeworm of dogs. Two cases of praziquantel resistance have been described in D. caninum in the United States. No further reports have been published to the authors’ knowledge. Here, the case of a dog imported to Switzerland from Spain with a history of chronic excretion of tapeworm proglottids and unresponsiveness to praziquantel treatments is reported. Clinical signs were mild (restlessness, tenesmus, anal pruritus, squashy feces) and flea infestation could be ruled out. Infection with D. caninum was confirmed through morphological and genetic parasite identification. Different subsequently applied anthelmintic compounds and protocols, including epsiprantel, did not confer the desired effects. Proglottid shedding only stopped after oral mebendazole administration of 86.2 mg kg−1 body weight for 5 consecutive days. Clinical signs resolved and the dog remained coproscopically negative during a follow-up period of 10 months after the last treatment. This case represents the first reported apparent praziquantel and epsiprantel resistance in D. caninum in Europe. Treatment was extremely challenging especially due to the limited availability of efficacious alternative compounds.

Keywords: Dipylidium caninum; anthelmintic resistance; cestode; dog; praziquantel/epsiprantel.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Eggs clustered in packets with hexacanth embryos typical for Dipylidium caninum.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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