Echinococcus multilocularis in Belgium: Prevalence in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and in different species of potential intermediate hosts

Hanosset, R.; Saegerman, Claude; Adant, S.; Massart, L; Losson, Bertrand

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.09.024

Cited by 44 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The carriage of E. multilocularis by the musk rat varied along the Ourthe River, the upper part of the basin having a significantly higher prevalence than the lower part. The spring of the Ourthe River is located in the Ardenne area, which together with the Belgian Lorraine, is a highly endemic region for E. multilocularis (Losson et al, 2003;Hanosset et al, 2004). The geoclimatic conditions prevailing in these two areas are suitable for the maintenance of the E. multilocularis life cycle (Hanosset et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The spring of the Ourthe River is located in the Ardenne area, which together with the Belgian Lorraine, is a highly endemic region for E. multilocularis (Losson et al, 2003;Hanosset et al, 2004). The geoclimatic conditions prevailing in these two areas are suitable for the maintenance of the E. multilocularis life cycle (Hanosset et al, 2008). One of the key factors is probably the altitude: E. multilocularis is a parasite that originates from cold regions (Hanosset et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of larval forms of Taenia taeniaeformis, Taenia martis, Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia polyacantha, and Taenia crassiceps in the musk rat was reported either in the USA or in Europe (Samuel et al, 2001). The metacestode E. multilocularis was observed in the musk rat in France (Boussinesq et al, 1986), Germany (Baumeister et al, 1997), and more recently in the Netherlands (Borgsteede et al, 2003) and Belgium (Hanosset et al, 2004). In humans, the development of the larval form of E. multilocularis is responsible for a rare but potentially fatal condition called alveolar echinococcosis (Acha and Szyfres, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and of those, four cases were recently described (Detry et al, 2005). In Europe, the adult stage of this cestode is found mainly in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes; Hanosset et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some areas of Belgium, prevalence of E. multilocularis in its final host can be very high (up to 33%; Losson et al, 2003), but the potential intermediate hosts are not well known (Hanosset et al, 2008). The present study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of the larval form of E. multilocularis in a musk rat population trapped along the Ourthe River and its tributaries (eastern Belgium).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

The Carriage of Larval Echinococcus Multilocularis and Other Cestodes by the Musk Rat (Ondatra Zibethicus) Along the Ourthe River and Its Tributaries (Belgium)

Mathy

Hanosset

Adant³

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT:In Belgium, the carriage of Echinococcus multilocularis by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) can be very high in some areas. This study was designed to evaluate the carriage of the larval form of E. multilocularis and other cestodes in a musk rat (Ondatra zibethicus) population trapped along the Ourthe River (southeastern Belgium). Six hundred fifty-seven musk rats were necropsied, and the larval cestodes of the abdominal and pleural cavities were identified. For E. multilocularis, the fertility of the cysts was verified in 58 liver samples. The following species were found: Taenia taeniaeformis (65.8%), Taenia martis (22.2%), E. multilocularis (22.1%), Taenia polyacantha (2.6%), and Taenia crassiceps (0.9%). Results were analyzed according to the site of capture (upper, middle, and lower Ourthe). There was a highly significant relationship between the carriage of E. multilocularis and the site of capture (the prevalence being higher in the upper part of the river). This difference could be due to different geoclimatic conditions. All but one hepatic lesion were found to contain protoscoleces of E. multilocularis (98.8%). The musk rat is probably infected through the consumption of plant material contaminated by the fox's feces. The red fox can occasionally prey on musk rats, but the musk rat cadavers that are left on the river banks by the trappers are probably also consumed. This could favor the maintenance of E. multilocularis life cycle. In conclusion, the musk rat seems to be highly susceptible to E. multilocularis and in Belgium could play the role of reservoir; when present this species could represent an inexpensive and sensitive bioindicator for the study and monitoring of the zoonosis.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and of those, four cases were recently described (Detry et al, 2005). In Europe, the adult stage of this cestode is found mainly in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes; Hanosset et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Carriage of Larval Echinococcus Multilocularis and Other Cestodes by the Musk Rat (Ondatra Zibethicus) Along the Ourthe River and Its Tributaries (Belgium)

Mathy

Hanosset

Adant³

et al. 2009

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Untitled

2015

EFSA Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was required to support the European Commission in preparing the review of Regulation (EU) No 1152/2011. In Europe, red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the main definitive host of the Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) lifecycle. There is no evidence that any other carnivore species can maintain the lifecycle in the absence of red fox, and this makes it to most relevant target species for surveillance. Movement of infected definitive hosts is an important introduction pathway. The knowledge on the geographical distribution of the environmental factors for the persistence of the lifecycle is scarce. In areas where no suitable autochthonous wild canid hosts and no highly suitable intermediate hosts are present, e.g. Malta, establishment of the EM cycle is considered close to impossible. Such countries do not need to carry out surveillance on domestic dogs to substantiate absence of EM in the relevant animal population. Reconsideration of some aspects of the current legislation regarding surveillance activities might be relevant; for example the identification of epidemiologically relevant units should be independent from political borders. Studies to improve the knowledge on epidemiological risk factors should be encouraged to enable risk-based sampling. Echinococcus notification should always be done at species level in order to discriminate between the more severe alveolar echinococcosis and the cystic echinococcosis. Praziquantel is the substance of choice for the treatment of dogs. However, the treatment window should be reconsidered to reduce the risk of re-infection: a general rule is to treat as close as possible to entry into a non-infected country. There is a lack of standardization of the diagnostic methods between laboratories. The diagnostic sensitivity of the tests should be established in accordance to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards for validation. For the time being, the diagnostic sensitivity can be set conservatively to 78%.

show abstract

Influence of Parasitism on Trace Element Contents in Tissues of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Its Parasites Mesocestoides spp. (Cestoda) and Toxascaris leonina (Nematoda)

Jankovská

Miholová

Bejček

et al. 2009

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bioaccumulation of cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc in 56 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and their parasites Mesocestoides spp. (Cestoda) and Toxascaris leonina (Nematoda) was studied. The levels of heavy metals were determined in the livers and kidneys of the animals depending on parasitism in the following ranges: Pb, 0.029-3.556; Cd, 0.055-9.967; Cr, 0.001-0.304; Cu, 4.15-41.15; Mn, 1.81-19.94; Ni: 0.037-0.831; Zn, 52.0-212.9 microg/g dry weight (dw). Cd in parasites (0.038-3.678 microg/g dw) were comparable with those in the livers of the host and lower than in the kidneys (0.095-6.032 microg/g dw). Contents of Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn in cestodes were predominantly higher than those in the kidney and liver of the host. Median lead levels in Mesocestoides spp. (45.6 microg/g dw) were 52-fold higher than in the kidney and liver of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) infected by both parasites and median Pb values in T. leonina (8.98 microg/g dw) were 8-fold higher than in the tissues of the parasitized red fox. Bioaccumulation factors of copper, zinc, nickel, and manganese are lower than those of lead and mostly range from 1.9 to 24 for Mesocestoides spp. and from 1.5 to 6 for nematode T. leonina depending on the tissue of host and element. A significant decrease in the content of Pb was found in the kidney of animals infected by T. leonina (0.260 microg/g dw) as well as those infected by Mesocestoides spp. (0.457 microg/g dw) in comparison with the lead content (0.878 microg/g dw) in the kidneys of the nonparasitized red fox. Regardless of a bioaccumulation of copper and manganese in the parasites, a significant increase of the concentrations of Mn and Cu was observed in the host's livers infected predominantly by Mesocestoides spp.

show abstract

Echinococcus multilocularis in Belgium: Prevalence in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and in different species of potential intermediate hosts

Cited by 44 publications

References 20 publications

The Carriage of Larval Echinococcus Multilocularis and Other Cestodes by the Musk Rat (Ondatra Zibethicus) Along the Ourthe River and Its Tributaries (Belgium)

The Carriage of Larval Echinococcus Multilocularis and Other Cestodes by the Musk Rat (Ondatra Zibethicus) Along the Ourthe River and Its Tributaries (Belgium)

Untitled

Influence of Parasitism on Trace Element Contents in Tissues of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Its Parasites Mesocestoides spp. (Cestoda) and Toxascaris leonina (Nematoda)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About