title: Could the domestic cat play a significant role in the transmission of Echinococcus multilocularis? A study based on qPCR analysis of cat feces in a rural area in France.
abstract: Echinococcus multilocularis, a cestode parasite responsible for alveolar echinococcosis in humans, is often reported in Europe. It involves red foxes, domestic dogs, and domestic and wild cats as definitive hosts. The parasite infects small mammals and accidentally humans as intermediate hosts and develops in a similar way to a tumor, usually in the liver. Domestic animals are suspected of playing a role in parasite transmission, but this is rarely proven. Moreover, the role of domestic cats is thought to be small, because of experimental studies showing incomplete development of the parasite observed in their intestines. In the present study, we investigated copro-sampling performed in a rural and highly endemic area in Eastern France, on carnivore feces (n = 150). From these samples, the parasite was detected and identified by DNA analysis using quantitative PCR targeting part of a mitochondrial gene (Em-qPCR). Taeniid eggs were isolated from positive-Em-qPCR samples by flotation, and species identification was confirmed by sequencing on DNA extracts. From a total of 43 copro-samples from cats, four tested positive for E. multilocularis by the Em-qPCR. In two of these, we found parasite eggs that were identified as E. multilocularis. This finding was confirmed by sequencing, while one dog stool out of 61 collected was found to be positive, no egg was detectable. At the same time, 34% of fox stools tested positive for the parasite. The present study challenges the current idea that cats are only of minor significance in the E. multilocularis life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR UBFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France - Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.affiliation: Entente for the Control of Zoonoses, 54220 Malzéville, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Combes
authors.affiliation: ANSES Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-Epidemiology Unit, Technopole Agricole et Vétérinaire, 54220 Malzéville, France.
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Umhang
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR UBFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Soufiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aknouche
authors.affiliation: Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR UBFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France - Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital of Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Millon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012424:Rural Population