title: Spatial heterogeneity and temporal variations in Echinococcus multilocularis infections in wild hosts in a North American urban setting.
abstract: Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, has the potential to circulate in urban areas where wild host populations and humans coexist. The spatial and temporal distribution of infection in wild hosts locally affects the risk of transmission to humans. We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of E. multilocularis infection in coyotes and rodent intermediate hosts within the city of Calgary, Canada, and the association between spatial variations in coyote infection and the relative composition of small mammal assemblages. Infection by E. multilocularis was examined in small mammals and coyote faeces collected monthly in five city parks from June 2012 to June 2013. Coyote faeces were analysed using a ZnCl(2) centrifugation and sedimentation protocol. Infection in intermediate hosts was assessed through lethal trapping and post-mortem analysis. Parasite eggs and metacestodes were morphologically identified and molecularly confirmed through species-specific PCR assays. Of 982 small mammals captured, infection was detected in 2/305 (0.66%) deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), 2/267 (0.75%) meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and 1/71 (1.41%) southern red backed voles (Myodes gapperi). Overall faecal prevalence in coyotes was 21.42% (n = 385) and varied across sites, ranging from 5.34% to 61.48%. Differences in coyote faecal prevalence across sites were consistent with local variations in the relative abundance of intermediate hosts within the small mammal assemblages. Infections peaked in intermediate hosts during autumn (0.68%) and winter (3.33%), and in coyotes during spring (43.47%). Peaks of infections in coyote faeces up to 83.8% in autumn were detected in a hyper-endemic area. To the best of our knowledge, our findings represent the first evidence of a sylvatic life-cycle of E. multilocularis in a North American urban setting, and provide new insights into the complexity of the parasite transmission ecology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liccioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre Alberta, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N4Z6, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathreen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ruckstuhl
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Electronic address: amassolo@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massolo
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002947:Cities; D046029:Coyotes; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D012377:Rodentia; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Canada; Coyote; Echinococcus multilocularis; Intermediate hosts; Spatial heterogeneity; Urban life-cycle