Prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) in southern Belgium

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Losson, B., Kervyn, T., Detry, J., Pastoret, P.-P., Mignon, B., Brochier, B.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 03.11.2003; Elsevier Science Bv
• Subjects: Age Factors; animal age; Animals; Belgium - epidemiology; Biologie végétale (sciences végétales, sylviculture, mycologie...); disease prevalence; Duodenum - parasitology; echinococcosis; Echinococcosis - epidemiology; Echinococcosis - parasitology; Echinococcosis - veterinary; Echinococcus - isolation & purification; Echinococcus multilocularis; Entomologie & lutte antiravageur; Entomology & pest control; epidemiological studies; Female; foxes; Foxes - parasitology; geographical distribution; geographical variation; Intestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases - parasitology; Intestinal Diseases - veterinary; Life sciences; Male; Médecine vétérinaire & santé animale; Phytobiology (plant sciences, forestry, mycology...); Prevalence; Red fox; Sciences du vivant; Seasons; Southern Belgium; Veterinary medicine & animal health; Vulpes vulpes; Belgium; Echinococcus multilocularis; Red fox; Prevalence; Southern Belgium
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.08.003

Between June 1998 and February 2002, 709 red foxes killed in Wallonia (south of Belgium) were available for parasitological examination of the gut. The identification of Echinococcus multilocularis was based on morphological data. E. multilocularis adults were observed in 20.2% of the animals. The analysis of data revealed marked differences between the geological areas of Wallonia; the highest prevalence (33%) was found in the Ardenne and the lowest (0%) on the Plateau de Herve. Host gender and the collection season had no effect on the prevalence. However, the latter was significantly higher in juveniles (<8 months of age). The geographical distribution of E. multilocularis in Belgium is much wider than originally thought.