An Aberystwyth University-led study is set to investigate how everyday interactions between people and dogs in rural Wales could be helping a harmful tapeworm spread between species.

Despite decades of public health campaigns, the parasite responsible for hydatid disease - which poses risks to livestock welfare, farm productivity, and human health - remains endemic in mid-Wales.

Dogs are the final host for the Echinococcus granulosus parasite, while sheep typically serve as intermediate hosts in the UK.

The parasite’s life cycle is sustained when sheep ingest eggs from dog faeces, developing cysts in their organs.

Dogs then become re-infected by scavenging or being fed infected sheep offal, perpetuating the cycle.

Humans can also become accidental hosts - the infection is very difficult to treat and can potentially lead to serious health complications or death. This makes the presence of the parasite in dogs a public health concern.

The study will involve fieldwork across mid-Wales to examine how human-dog interactions in agricultural communities influence the transmission of hydatid disease across species.

Researcher Keira Washtell, from the Department of Life Sciences at Aberystwyth University, said: “This research goes beyond disease surveillance - it’s about understanding how people live with and care for dogs, and how those relationships intersect with environmental and public health risks.

“By investigating canine movement and lifestyle and community perceptions, we aim to identify practical, locally informed strategies to reduce zoonotic transmission.”

Researchers will use GPS collars to track the movements of free roaming farm dogs and analyse faecal samples from farmland to investigate their diets.

The project team will work closely with farmers, vets, public health experts, and dog owner groups, to gather insights into why previous public health messaging about hydatid disease may not have succeeded.

The research is part of OneZoo, a UK-wide doctoral training programme funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).