Echinococcus multilocularisInfection, Southern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis, the disease caused by infection with the intermediate stage of the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm, is typically fatal in humans and dogs when left untreated. Since 2012, alveolar echinococcosis has been diagnosed in 5 dogs, 3 lemurs, and 1 chipmunk in southern Ontario, Canada, a region previously considered free of these tapeworms. Because of human and animal health concerns, we estimated prevalence of infection in wild canids across southern Ontario. During 2015–2017, we collected fecal samples from 460 wild canids (416 coyotes, 44 foxes) during postmortem examination and analyzed them by using a semiautomated magnetic capture probe DNA extraction and real-time PCR method for E. multilocularis DNA. Surprisingly, 23% (95% CI 20%–27%) of samples tested positive. By using a spatial scan test, we identified an infection cluster (relative risk 2.26; p = 0.002) in the western-central region of the province. The cluster encompasses areas of dense human population, suggesting zoonotic transmission.

Disseminated Echinococcus multilocularis Infection without Liver Involvement in Child, Canada, 2018

“…After a small cluster of domestic dogs that had diagnoses of E. multilocularis infection in Ontario, a survey of wild canid carcasses was conducted across southern Ontario. Of 460 fecal samples, 23% were positive by PCR for E. multilocularis DNA (13). Of the 18 affected public health units, 10 had clustering with higher prevalence and were in regions with human population densities of up to 1,700 persons/km 2 .…”

Disseminated alveolar echinococcosis in a 74-year-old woman presenting with focal seizure

“…This area was not previously shown to be endemic for the pathogen, and suggests a possible change in geographic distribution. 2 Despite this, the annual incidence of human alveolar echinococcosis in endemic regions is believed to be low (0.03-1.2 cases per 100 000 inhabitants). 3 To our knowledge, 1 published case report of human alveolar echinococcosis acquired in Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba) exists in the literature, which was published in 1937.…”

Combined cross-sectional and case-control study on Echinococcus multilocularis infection in pigs in Switzerland

“…in pigs, and thus interrupting the life cycle. The disease is a growing threat to public health in the northern hemisphere ( Gottstein et al, 2015 , Kotwa et al, 2019 ) and has been shown to be highly endemic in Switzerland, with the incidence of human AE significantly increasing in recent years ( Gottstein et al, 2015 , Lachenmayer et al, 2019 ). In contrast to human cases, infections in animals – either as final or intermediate hosts - are reportable in Switzerland ( Anonymous, 1995 ).…”