title: Surveillance and management of Echinococcus multilocularis in a wildlife park.
abstract: The fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a severe zoonotic disease that may be fatal if untreated. A broad spectrum of mammalian species may be accidentally infected even in captivity. In April 2011, liver lesions due to E. multilocularis were observed during the necropsy of a captive-born nutria (Myocastor coypus) in a French wildlife park, leading to initiation of a study to survey the parasite's presence in the park. A comparable environmental contamination with fox's feces infected by E. multilocularis was reported inside (17.8%) and outside (20.6%) the park. E. multilocularis worms were found in the intestines of three of the five roaming foxes shot in the park. Coprological analyses of potential definitive hosts in captivity (fox, lynx, wildcat, genet, wolf, bear and raccoon) revealed infection in one Eurasian wolf. Voles trapped inside the park also had a high prevalence of 5.3%. After diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis in a Lemur catta during necropsy, four other cases in L. catta were detected by a combination of ultrasound and serology. These animals were treated twice daily with albendazole. The systematic massive metacestode development and numerous protoscoleces in L. catta confirmed their particular sensitivity to E. multilocularis infection. The autochthonous origin of the infection in all the captive animals infected was genetically confirmed by EmsB microsatellite analysis. Preventive measures were implemented to avoid the presence of roaming foxes, contact with potential definitive hosts and contaminated food sources for potential intermediate hosts.
authors.affiliation: ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France. Electronic address: gerald.umhang@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Umhang
authors.affiliation: Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix, Rhodes, France.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahoreau
authors.affiliation: ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hormaz
authors.affiliation: ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: ONIRIS Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guenon
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Human Echinococcosis and National Reference Center for Human Alveolar Echinococcosis, CHRU University Hospital, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montange
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Human Echinococcosis and National Reference Center for Human Alveolar Echinococcosis, CHRU University Hospital, Besançon, France; Chrono-Environnement UMR 6249 Research Team, CNRS-University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grenouillet
authors.affiliation: ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005589:Foxes / Q000469:parasitology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D007900:Lemur / Q000469:parasitology*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D012377:Rodentia
keywords: Albendazole; Captive wildlife; Echinococcus multilocularis; Lemur catta; Serology; Voles