A sylvatic lifecycle of Echinococcus equinus in the Etosha National Park, Namibia

Wassermann, Marion; Aschenborn, Ortwin; Aschenborn, Julia; Mackenstedt, Ute; Römig, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.12.002

Cited by 35 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…canadensis and E. multilocularis Romig et al, 2015;Wassermann et al, 2015), although strict sympatry has not been demonstrated in all cases. Nevertheless, the consistent morphological and ecological distinctiveness of E. equinus over a wide geographic area is evidence of a lack of ecological exchangeability with all other taxa, and therefore of separate species status.…”

Section: Echinococcus Equinusmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…In Africa, early taxonomists described a number of species of Echinococcus which were subsequently invalidated; recent studies, however, have highlighted that the genetic diversity of Echinococcus spp. in African wildlife is 5 far from clear and it is possible that some of these invalidated taxa may need to be revisited (Romig et al, 2011;Wassermann et al, 2015) Resolving controversies about species status and inferring the taxonomic rank of newly discovered variant populations requires a clear conception of what constitutes a species and what criteria can be validly used to delimit species. This has not always been the case with respect to the species-level taxonomy of Echinococcus.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phylogenetic Pattern, Evolutionary Processes and Species Delimitation in the Genus Echinococcus

Lymbery

2017

Advances in Parasitology

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Section: Echinococcus Equinusmentioning

confidence: 83%

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confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic Pattern, Evolutionary Processes and Species Delimitation in the Genus Echinococcus

Lymbery

2017

Advances in Parasitology

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“…While E. felidis has not yet been found in any canid, the susceptibility of lions as definitive hosts is not a distinguishing feature for this taxon. In recent studies, E. granulosus s.s. and E. equinus were shown to be regular parasites in wild lion populations of eastern and southern Africa, respectively (Kagendo et al, 2014;Wassermann et al, 2015). Williams and Sweatman (1963) characterised E. granulosus worms derived from horse cysts in Britain and suggested they represent a distinct subspecies, E. granulosus equinus.…”

Section: Echinococcus Felidismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…eastern Europe and South Africa, where undetermined Echinococcus cysts are known from horses, donkeys and zebras. Recently a wildlife cycle of E. equinus was discovered in the Etosha National Park of Namibia between lions and black-backed jackals as definitive hosts, and plains zebras as intermediate hosts (Wassermann et al, 2015); morphological observations and transmission studies suggest that this cycle may be widespread in southern Africa (Macpherson and Wachira, 1997).…”

Section: Echinococcus Equinusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taxonomy and molecular epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato

Römig

Ebi

Wassermann

2015

Veterinary Parasitology

252

207

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Echinococcus granulosus, formerly regarded as a single species with a high genotypic and phenotypic diversity, is now recognised as an assemblage of cryptic species, which differ considerably in morphology, development, host specificity (including infectivity/pathogenicity for humans) and other aspects. This diversity is reflected in the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes and has led to the construction of phylogenetic trees and hypotheses on the origin and geographic dispersal of various taxa. Based on phenotypic characters and gene sequences, E. granulosus (sensu lato) has by now been subdivided into E. granulosus sensu stricto (including the formerly identified genotypic variants G1-3), Echinococcus felidis (the former 'lion strain'), Echinococcus equinus (the 'horse strain', genotype G4), Echinococcus ortleppi (the 'cattle strain', genotype G5) and Echinococcus canadensis. The latter species, as recognised here, shows the highest diversity and is composed of the 'camel strain', genotype G6, the 'pig strain', genotype G7, and two 'cervid strains', genotypes G8 and G10. There is debate whether the closely related G6 and G7 should be placed in a separate species, but more morphological and biological data are needed to support or reject this view. In this classification, the application of rules for zoological nomenclature led to the resurrection of old species names, which had before been synonymised with E. granulosus. This nomenclatural subdivision of the agents of cystic echinococcosis (CE) may appear inconvenient for practical applications, especially because molecular tools are needed for identification of the cyst stage, and because retrospective data on 'E. granulosus' are now difficult to interpret without examination of voucher specimens. However, the increased awareness for the diversity of CE agents - now emphasised by species names rather than genotype numbers - has led to a large number of recent studies on this issue and a rapid increase of knowledge on geographical spread, host range and impact on human health of the various species. E. granulosus s.s., often transmitted by sheep, is now clearly identified as the principal CE agent affecting humans. Contrary to previous assumptions, genotypes G6/7 of E. canadensis readily infect humans, although CE incidences are rather low where E. canadensis predominates. Sub-Saharan Africa seems to be the region with the highest diversity of Echinococcus, and wild carnivores may play a more important role in the lifecycles of various species than previously assumed. Still, a number of issues remain unclear, e.g. possibly diverging parameters of diagnostic tests among the species, different responses to vaccines and, importantly, possibly required modifications of clinical management due to differences in pathogenicity.

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“…Moreover, a survey among South African game farmers revealed 34.3% of these farmers farming with both game animals and domestic animals (Bekker, 2011) which could increase risk of transmission. In a recent study, it was assumed that the host range of this species is far from clear, particularly concerning intermediate hosts (Wassermann et al, 2015). In addition, lions and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta), long thought to be exceptional hosts for Echinococcus spp.…”

Section: Zoonotic Cestodes Of Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%