title: First report of highly pathogenic Echinococcus granulosus genotype G1 in dogs in a European urban environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are tapeworm parasites of major medical and veterinary importance, causing cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Both diseases are listed among the most severe parasitic diseases in humans, representing 2 of the 17 neglected diseases prioritised by the World Health Organisation. However, little is known about the role of urban animals in transmission of both parasite species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sensitive non-invasive genetic method was used to monitor E. granulosus and E. multilocularis infection among dog faecal samples collected from an urban area in Estonia in 2012-13. Out of 181 dog faecal samples analysed, 2.2% tested positive for E. granulosus, determined by sequencing as genotype G1. None of the samples tested positive for E. multilocularis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report contamination of an urban environment with highly pathogenic E. granulosus G1 disseminated by dogs, and a potential risk to human health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. leidil@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Leidi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurimaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. johndavison77@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. karmela@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Karmen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Süld
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. liivi.plumer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Liivi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plumer
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. ragneoja@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Ragne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oja
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. epp.moks@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Epp
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moks
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. marju.keis@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Marju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keis
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. maris.hindrikson@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Maris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hindrikson
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. liina.kinkar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Liina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kinkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. teivi.laurimae@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Teivi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laurimäe
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. jaana733@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abner
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. jaanus.remm@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Jaanus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remm
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. a50679@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Peeter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anijalg
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia. urmas.saarma@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Urmas
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saarma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity