Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes and raccoon dogs: an increasing concern for Baltic countries. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bagrade, Guna; Deksne, Gunita; Ozoliņa, Zanda; Howlett, Samantha; Interisano, Maria; Casulli, Adriano; Pozio, Edoardo
• Is Part Of: Parasites & vectors. Volume 9:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Echinococcus multilocularis -- Red fox -- Raccoon dog -- Prevalence -- Zoonosis -- Latvia -- Baltic countries; Parasitism -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Vector-pathogen relationships -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.96
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1891-9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-3305

Abstract

Abstract Background In Europe, the life-cycle ofEchinococcus multilocularis is predominantly sylvatic, involving red foxes (Vulpes vulpes ) as the main definitive hosts and rodents such as muskrats and arvicolids as intermediate hosts. The parasite is the etiological agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, a malignant zoonotic disease caused by the accidental ingestion of eggs shed by definitive hosts in their faeces. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence ofE. multilocularis in red foxes and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides ) and to study the environmental factors favouring the perpetuation of the parasite in Latvia. Methods A total of 538 red foxes and 407 raccoon dogs were collected across Latvia from 2010 to 2015. The sedimentation and counting technique was used for collectingE. multilocularis adult worms from fox and raccoon dog intestines. The morphological identification of the parasite was confirmed by molecular analysis. Results The prevalence ofE. multilocularis was significantly higher in foxes (17.1%; intensity of infection 1–7, 050 worms) (P < 0.001) than in raccoon dogs (8.1%; intensity of infection 5–815 worms). In foxes, a significant positive correlation (r (10) = 0.7952, P = 0.001) was found between parasite prevalence and the intensity of infection. A positive relationship (R s = 0.900, n = 5, P = 0.037) between parasite prevalence and precipitation was also observed. In raccoon dogs, a significant negative relationship (F (1, 8) = 9.412, P = 0.015) between animal density and parasite prevalence, and a significant positive relationship (F (1, 8) = 7.869, P = 0.023) between parasite prevalence and agricultural land cover, were detected. Conclusions The results of this study confirm the red fox as the most important definitive host ofE. multilocularis and, consequently, as the main target for control programmes in the Baltic countries. Raccoon dogs seem to play a secondary role in the life-cycle ofE. multilocularis within the investigated European region.