title: Parasitological and serological studies on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) in Switzerland.
abstract: In the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland, 1,252 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were examined during 1990-1991 for intestinal stages of Echinococcus multilocularis using the mucosal smear technique. Special safety precautions were employed during examination. An average of 35% (432 foxes) were infected, mostly with low to medium numbers of gravid worms producing thick-shelled eggs. In the eleven districts of the Canton, prevalence rates varied between 13% and 57%. An average of 29% of the foxes had antibodies in serum or body fluid against a highly species-specific antigen of E. multilocularis (Em2-antigen). The fact that foxes with intestinal E. multilocularis infection have been found in all parts of the Canton of Zurich indicates a relatively high potential infection risk for humans, but apparently the risk is reduced by certain extrinsic or intrinsic factors which have yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ewald
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gottstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D015994:Incidence; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000469:parasitology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth