title: The use of tetracycline in anthelmintic baits to assess baiting rate and drug efficacy against Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes.
abstract: Anthelmintic (praziquantel) baiting of wild red foxes against Echinococcus multilocularis infection was studied in a highly epizootic suburban area of Otaru, Hokkaido (the northern island of Japan) during the summer and autumn in the years 1999-2004. Acceptance of baits containing the biomarker tetracycline (TC) was evaluated. The prevalence of E. multilocularis infection in foxes before baiting (1999-2000) was 58% (88/153), whereas in the fourth year of bait distribution year (2004), it decreased to 11% (5/45). Analysis of TC marking in the teeth of foxes showed that 39% (77/195) of those captured after baiting were estimated to have consumed baits in the year of capture. Importantly, more juvenile (56%, 49/87) than adult foxes (26%, 28/108) were marked, indicating efficient baiting of juveniles, which tended to have a higher worm burden of E. multilocularis. Of 77 marked foxes, E. multilocularis and Alaria alata (monitored as the second indicator species of deworming) were not detected in 70 (90%) and 76 (99%) foxes, respectively. The results suggest effective deworming by bait consumption. However, it was also demonstrated that 9% of the marked foxes were infected or re-infected after bait consumption, suggesting high infection pressure and the importance of frequent baiting.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Nariaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Yuzaburo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005589:Foxes; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology; D007564:Japan; D010063:Ovum; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014070:Tooth
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015415:Biomarkers; D013752:Tetracycline