Monitoring of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in red foxes in Shiretoko, Japan, by coproantigen detection.
The study was conducted to evaluate a mAb-based coproantigen detection assay for monitoring fox prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infections in the Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, Japan. Eight fox families, each consisting of 2-4 adults and their pups, were selected because their territories have been determined. Faeces of each family (total n = 537) were collected monthly from April to October, 1994. Detection of coproantigen and taeniid eggs was recognized in 58 and 27 faeces, respectively, but mostly restricted in 1 family, in which coproantigen ELISA OD values had dual peaks, one in June and the other in October, whereas taeniid eggs were detected only from April to July. Fox pup faeces (n = 51) collected around the dens used by the positive family were all coproantigen and taeniid egg negative except for 1 faeces. These results suggest that the prevalence and infection pressure in the study area were low and the infected family terminated the infection in the summer and acquired a new one in the early autumn, 1994. This monitoring method for fox infection will be a practical management tool for E. multilocularis infection, especially at the tourist spots in Hokkaido where close contact of fox with humans is frequently observed.
Nonaka
N
N
Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. nnonaka@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
Tsukada
H
H
Abe
N
N
Oku
Y
Y
Kamiya
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013731:Territoriality
D000947:Antigens, Helminth