Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-nwzlb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T18:44:18.416Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Spatial and temporal aspects of urban transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2002

C. STIEGER
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
D. HEGGLIN
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland Zoological Museum, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
G. SCHWARZENBACH
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
A. MATHIS
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
P. DEPLAZES
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

High prevalences of Echinococcus multilocularis have been reported from foxes of the city of Zurich, Switzerland. In order to characterize transmission in urban areas, a coproantigen ELISA was evaluated for diagnosing the infection in fox faecal samples collected in the environment. In addition, trapped rodents were investigated for the presence of metacestodes. Faecal samples could reliably be classified as being of fox origin by assessing physical properties as shown by the different parasite spectra of putative fox and dog faecal specimens. From the total of 604 tested putative fox faecal samples 156 (25·8%) were positive in the ELISA with a distinct increase in the proportion of positive samples from the urban to the periurban zone. Furthermore, samples collected in the border zone had significantly more coproantigen-positive results during winter. Prevalence of E. multilocularis in rodents was 9·1% (81/889) for Arvicola terrestris (with 3·5% of the animals harbouring between 14 and 244400 protoscoleces) and 2·4% (2/83) for Clethrionomys glareolus. E. multilocularis-infected A. terrestris were found in 9 of 10 trapping sites in the border zone. The high infection pressure in the periphery of urban areas might pose a risk for infection with E. multilocularis for both domestic carnivores as well as for urban inhabitants. Interventions into the cycle aiming at reducing the infection pressure should therefore focus on these areas.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)