The fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, in grey wolves and dogs in Slovakia: epidemiology and genetic analysis

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:italic>Echinococcus multilocularis</jats:italic>, the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, is an important emerging parasite in the northern hemisphere. In epidemiological studies, the highest attention is being paid to foxes as the main reservoir hosts responsible for geographic expansion from multiple focal populations and the invasion of urban habitats, but little information is available on the parasite distribution in other carnivores. Hence, the study was designed to obtain updated information about the occurrence and genetic diversity of <jats:italic>E. multilocularis</jats:italic> in grey wolves and dogs in Slovakia. Faecal samples of wolves were collected from three locations under a certain level of environmental protection in the central and eastern parts of the country, and the presence of the parasite DNA was detected in 35.7% of 112 samples, with the highest rate (51.2%) recorded in the Poloniny National Park in north-eastern Slovakia. Among 110 faecal dog samples, <jats:italic>E. multilocularis</jats:italic> was detected in three faeces from segregated Roma settlements in the eastern part of the country, which accounted for an overall positivity of 2.7%. Sequence analysis of two mitochondrial genes, 12S rRNA and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, revealed four haplotypes in 13 isolates from wolves and dogs originating from four sites in eastern and central Slovakia, with all samples bearing a European-type pattern of <jats:italic>E. multilocularis</jats:italic>. The more than one-third positivity rate of <jats:italic>E. multilocularis</jats:italic> in wolf faecal samples dispersed over a large part of the country has corroborated the extensive circulation of the parasite in wildlife and confirmed the need to improve intervention control strategies.</jats:p>

Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Echinococcus multilocularis in a gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Turkey: further evidence for increased risk of alveolar echinococcosis in urban areas

“…in Iran [21], 27% in Canada [10], and 62.6% in the USA [22]. The prevalence of E. multilocularis was 1.3% in France [23], 9.7-35.5% in Slovakia [7], 5.9% in Latvia [24], 3.4% in Mongolia [9], 1% in Iran [21], and 13% in Canada [10]. One case of echinococcosis in gray wolves has been reported in Turkey [11].…”

“…The distribution of AE is restricted to the northern hemisphere, and Turkey, particularly the northeastern part, is highly endemic for AE in terms of human cases, ranking third in the world [5,6]. Echinococcosis has been reported in wolves worldwide; in Europe [7,8], Asia [9], and the America [10]. In Turkey, there is only one report of echinococcosis in gray wolves [11].…”

Human alveolar echinococcosis in Slovakia: Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Echinococcus multilocularis, 2000–2023

“…In the previous studies addressing the genetic diversity of E . multilocularis in Slovakia by DNA sequencing, 10 isolates from wolves and four isolates from dogs from five locations in eastern and central Slovakia were examined by employing nad1 and 12S RNA genes [ 16 , 17 ]. All samples were assigned to the European haplotype of E .…”

“…For Slovakia, only a few studies focused exclusively on isolates from animals (red foxes, grey wolves, dogs) were conducted on the genetic diversity of E . multilocularis [e.g., 14 – 17 ] Therefore, with the aim to contribute to an overview of the epidemiological situation by focusing on transmission to humans, the present study was conducted to evaluate the epidemiology of human AE and the haplotype diversity of E . multilocularis in clinical isolates from different parts of the country.…”

The First Record of Echinococcus ortleppi (G5) Tapeworms in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

“…were also reported in wolves with a different percentage (3–26%) depending on the region [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Furthermore, 35.7% of wolves infected with E. multilocularis were found in a Slovakian study [ 14 ].…”