Is High Prevalence ofEchinococcus multilocularisin Wild and Domestic Animals Associated with Disease Incidence in Humans?

Abstract

We investigated a focus of highly endemic Echinococcus multilocularis infection to assess persistence of high endemicity in rural rodents, explore potential for parasite transmission to domestic carnivores, and assess (serologically) putative exposure versus infection frequency in inhabitants of the region. From spring 1993 to spring 1998, the prevalence of E. multilocularis in rodents was 9% to 39% for Arvicola terrestris and 10% to 21% for Microtus arvalis. From June 1996 to October 1997, 6 (7%) of 86 feral dogs and 1 of 33 cats living close to the region tested positive for intestinal E. multilocularis infection. Testing included egg detection by coproscopy, antigen detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and specific parasite DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction. Thus, the presence of infected domestic carnivores can increase E. multilocularis exposure risk in humans. A seroepidemiologic survey of 2,943 blood donors in the area used specific Em2-ELISA. Comparative statistical analyses of seroprevalence and clinical incidence showed an increase in Em2-seroprevalence from 1986 and 1996-97 but no increase in clinical incidence of alveolar hydatid disease.

Infection of red foxes with Echinococcus multilocularis in western Switzerland

“…As shown in the Doubs department (France), human alveolar echinococcosis is strongly influenced by the densities of arvicolid species (Viel et al, 1999). In Switzerland, water and common voles also seem to be important intermediate hosts (Gottstein et al, 1996(Gottstein et al, , 2001. In a small area of the Plateau in canton of Fribourg E. multilocularis metacestode was found in 10 -39% of an A. terrestris population and in 10-23% of an M. arvalis population during six seasons of investigation (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998).…”

Threat of alveolar echinococcosis to public health – a challenge for Europe

“…As a rough estimate, only 1-10% of exposed/infected 214 persons will develop disease, while others eliminate the infection due to innate and/or acquired immunity [40,57,58]. This holds promise for an immunization-based prevention or 216 immunotherapy of AE.…”

Post-surgical follow-up (by ELISA and immunoblotting) of cured versus non-cured cystic echinococcosis in young patients

“…Gottstein et al 2001) of 100 blood donor sera, i.e. the A 405 nm -values of negative sera were ranging within the 99 % confidence limit of a healthy control population.…”