A new article was published in the international scientific journal Icelandic Agricultural Sciences. It states that parasites were confirmed in imported dogs and cats in Iceland in the years 1989 - 2017.
The import ban on dogs was lifted in 1989 and then the import of dogs and cats is allowed if the conditions for health and isolation are met for a certain period. From 1989 until the end of 2017, 3822 dogs and 900 cats were imported to the country.
The animals have come from 67 countries on every continent. A search for parasites revealed one or more species of parasites in 10.6% dogs and 4.2% cats, and pests were found on arrival in the country in 0.2% dogs and 0.2% cats. A total of 18 species of internal parasites and six species of vermin have been found in or on imported pets. It is believed that six of them (nematodes and five species of vermin) have been transmitted to domestic dogs or cats with pets that were still infected when the isolation ended. Two or three of the species seem to have gained a foothold in Iceland, but it is believed that three of them have been eradicated.