Noninvasive Detection of<i>Echinococcus multilocularis</i>Tapeworm in Urban Area, Estonia

Laurimaa, Leidi; Davison, John; Plumer, Liivi; Süld, Karmen; Oja, Ragne; Moks, Epp; Keis, Marju; Hindrikson, Maris; Kinkar, Liina; Laurimäe, Teivi; Abner, Jaana; Remm, Jaanus; Anijalg, Peeter; Saarma, Urmas

doi:10.3201/eid2101.140136

Cited by 29 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…In Europe, foxes are known to interact via predation or resource competition with species of conservation and management concern (Tannerfeldt et al 2002, Panek 2013. They are also important vectors of rabies (Kauhala 2003), alveolar echinococcosis (Moks et al 2005, Hegglin et al 2015, Laurimaa et al 2015a, and sarcoptic mange (Soulsbury et al 2007, Romani et al 2015, and the transmission dynamics of the parasites and pathogens causing these diseases are intimately linked with predator food habits (Friesen et al 2015, Laurimaa et al 2016. Understanding large-scale patterns in fox diet can, therefore, inform ecosystem management, contribute towards assessment of the risks to human and domestic animal health associated with zoonotic disease, and indicate how these issues may evolve with future climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Europe‐wide biogeographical patterns in the diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review

et al. 2017

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Understanding how the diet of an ecologically important mesopredator varies throughout a large region can provide an insight into the trophic responses of generalist carnivores to global change. We review the diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in Europe. The main aims of this study were: (1) to identify biogeographical patterns in red fox diet throughout Europe; (2) to investigate the significance of the human footprint index (a measure of anthropogenic influence on habitats) for the Europe‐wide food habits of red foxes; and (3) to discuss the ecosystem role of red foxes in the face of global change. We hypothesised that in the red fox: (1) diet composition is likely to vary along a latitudinal gradient, between seasons (pooled into warm and cold periods of the year), and in relation to human impact on habitats; and (2) dietary breadth will increase with latitude and be greater during the warm period than during the cold period. We conducted a Europe‐wide analysis of red fox diet, using data from 66 studies in 17 European countries. Multivariate analysis and generalised linear models were used to evaluate variation in diet composition and niche breadth in relation to latitude, season, and human footprint index. The analysis revealed that red fox diet composition varies considerably in response to latitude, human influence, and warm and cold periods. Dietary breadth decreases at higher latitudes in the cold period, but not in the warm period, and increases in areas with high human impact. Among individual dietary items, the consumption of lagomorphs is more frequent in areas with higher human footprint index. The occurrence of rodents and birds in fox diet increases uniformly with latitude, while that of plants and invertebrates responds differently to latitude in the warm and cold periods. With climate warming, red foxes may incorporate a wider spectrum of food categories into their diet in northern areas in the future. Widening of fox dietary niche breadth could have important consequences for ecosystems and for the spread of zoonotic diseases.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Europe‐wide biogeographical patterns in the diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review

et al. 2017

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“…Since synanthropic foxes are reservoir hosts of zoonotic pathogens, it is important to understand the factors influencing the transmission of zoonotic parasites including E. multilocularis [16]. In recent years, foxes colonized 33 of 47 Estonian towns [17] and E. multilocularis was detected in 7.1% of urban foxes [18]. In the city of Riga (capital of Latvia), foxes were mainly recorded in forest parks, meadows, private gardens and on Zakusala island with an increase of their number towards the periphery of the city [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes and raccoon dogs: an increasing concern for Baltic countries

et al. 2016

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BackgroundIn Europe, the life-cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis is predominantly sylvatic, involving red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as the main definitive hosts and rodents such as muskrats and arvicolids as intermediate hosts. The parasite is the etiological agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, a malignant zoonotic disease caused by the accidental ingestion of eggs shed by definitive hosts in their faeces. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and to study the environmental factors favouring the perpetuation of the parasite in Latvia.MethodsA total of 538 red foxes and 407 raccoon dogs were collected across Latvia from 2010 to 2015. The sedimentation and counting technique was used for collecting E. multilocularis adult worms from fox and raccoon dog intestines. The morphological identification of the parasite was confirmed by molecular analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of E. multilocularis was significantly higher in foxes (17.1%; intensity of infection 1–7,050 worms) (P < 0.001) than in raccoon dogs (8.1%; intensity of infection 5–815 worms). In foxes, a significant positive correlation (r (10) = 0.7952, P = 0.001) was found between parasite prevalence and the intensity of infection. A positive relationship (R s = 0.900, n = 5, P = 0.037) between parasite prevalence and precipitation was also observed. In raccoon dogs, a significant negative relationship (F (1,8) = 9.412, P = 0.015) between animal density and parasite prevalence, and a significant positive relationship (F (1,8) = 7.869, P = 0.023) between parasite prevalence and agricultural land cover, were detected.ConclusionsThe results of this study confirm the red fox as the most important definitive host of E. multilocularis and, consequently, as the main target for control programmes in the Baltic countries. Raccoon dogs seem to play a secondary role in the life-cycle of E. multilocularis within the investigated European region.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1891-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…E. multilocularis is relatively easy to detect in faecal samples of definitive hosts using various molecular techniques, e.g. standard-PCR (Laurimaa et al, 2015), multiplex-PCR (Trachsel et al, 2007), real-time PCR or real-time multiplex-nested PCR . Recently, a newly developed non-invasive genetic method was published by Laurimaa et al (2015) which allows both E. multilocularis and its host species to be identified from carnivore faecal samples.…”

Section: Copro-sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…standard-PCR (Laurimaa et al, 2015), multiplex-PCR (Trachsel et al, 2007), real-time PCR or real-time multiplex-nested PCR . Recently, a newly developed non-invasive genetic method was published by Laurimaa et al (2015) which allows both E. multilocularis and its host species to be identified from carnivore faecal samples. The method is also highly sensitive: the presence of E. multilocularis can even be detected when only a single parasite egg is present in the sample.…”

Section: Copro-sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An asterisk denotes the node representing the most recent common ancestor of Neotropical Echinococcus spp., used as a calibration point for time estimates (Knapp et al, 2011). been reported from a number of European cities, prompting considerable concern for public health (e.g. Deplazes et al, 2004;Hofer et al, 2000;Plumer et al, 2014;Laurimaa et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Taxonomy, phylogeny and molecular epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis: From fundamental knowledge to health ecology

Knapp

Gottstein

Saarma

et al. 2015

Veterinary Parasitology

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Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the most severe parasitic diseases in humans and represents one of the 17 neglected diseases prioritised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2012. Considering the major medical and veterinary importance of this parasite, the phylogeny of the genus Echinococcus is of considerable importance; yet, despite numerous efforts with both mitochondrial and nuclear data, it has remained unresolved. The genus is clearly complex, and this is one of the reasons for the incomplete understanding of its taxonomy. Although taxonomic studies have recognised E. multilocularis as a separate entity from the Echinococcus granulosus complex and other members of the genus, it would be premature to draw firm conclusions about the taxonomy of the genus before the phylogeny of the whole genus is fully resolved. The recent sequencing of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus genomes opens new possibilities for performing in-depth phylogenetic analyses. In addition, whole genome data provide the possibility of inferring phylogenies based on a large number of functional genes, i.e. genes that trace the evolutionary history of adaptation in E. multilocularis and other members of the genus. Moreover, genomic data open new avenues for studying the molecular epidemiology of E. multilocularis: genotyping studies with larger panels of genetic markers allow the genetic diversity and spatial dynamics of parasites to be evaluated with greater precision. There is an urgent need for international coordination of genotyping of E. multilocularis isolates from animals and human patients. This could be fundamental for a better understanding of the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis and for designing efficient healthcare strategies.

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Noninvasive Detection ofEchinococcus multilocularisTapeworm in Urban Area, Estonia

Cited by 29 publications

References 9 publications

Europe‐wide biogeographical patterns in the diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review

Europe‐wide biogeographical patterns in the diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review

Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes and raccoon dogs: an increasing concern for Baltic countries

Taxonomy, phylogeny and molecular epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis: From fundamental knowledge to health ecology

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