title: First finding of Echinococcus multilocularis DNA in soil: preliminary survey in Varmia-Masuria Province, northeast Poland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis DNA in the soil in rural areas of Varmia-Masuria Province, Poland, which is the region with the highest recorded number of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) cases in this country. In total, 62 soil samples were analyzed. Samples were collected in forests near the lairs of foxes, as well as from arable fields, kitchen gardens and farmyards. The parasite DNA was detected in 11.3% of the samples. This study is the first environmental survey of the presence of E. multilocularis DNA in soil. The results demonstrate that the soil can be a direct source of human infections. These results should motivate the appropriate institutions to introduce informative and educational campaigns about the risk of infection, as well as developing methods for protecting the population, especially those living in at-risk areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address: bszost@gumed.edu.pl.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szostakowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lass
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pietkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3A Str., 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Myjak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000235:genetics*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D012987:Soil
keywords: Echinococcus multilocularis; Eggs; Environment; PCR; Soil