Echinococcosis in Libya. III. Further studies on the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in dogs.

Of 92 dogs examined for Echinococcus granulosus at five sites in Libya from April 1985 to September 1988 33 (35.9%) were infected, the prevalences ranging from 60% (Zawiyah) and 52.0% (Tripoli) in the north-west, to 28.6% (Benghazi) and 28.5% (Darna) in the north-east. None of eight dogs at Al-Kufra, in the south-eastern desert, were infected. Twenty dogs each had two to 200 worms, nine had 201-1000 worms and four each had over 1000 worms (one dog in Tripoli had 17,120 worms). Most infections were seen in dogs aged three to four years; 45.4% of bitches and 35.4% of males were infected.