title: New distribution records of Echinococcus multilocularis in the brown lemming from Barrow, Alaska, USA.
abstract: We identified Echinococcus multilocularis for the first time in brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) from Barrow, Alaska, USA. Of 467 brown lemmings trapped between 1995 and 2000, two males and two females (0.9%; 95% confidence interval=0.9+/-0.9%) were found to be infected with metacestodes of E. multilocularis. No metacestodes were found in 17 collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx rubricatus) also trapped at Barrow. In humans, E. multilocularis causes alveolar echinococcosis, which is potentially fatal. Knowledge of the distribution of this parasite is important to protect the public health.
authors.affiliation: Owl Research Institute, PO Box 39, Charlo, Montana 59824, USA. owlmontana@charlo.net
authors.forename: Denver W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Cyd
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanns
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burek
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frantz
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male