Investigation on the occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis in Central Italy.

BMC Veterinary Research
Pietro CalderiniGabriella Cancrini

Abstract

Recent studies on geographic distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in Europe show that it has a wider range than previously thought. It is unclear, however, if the wider distribution is due to its recent spreading or to a lack of previous data from the new areas. Italy, previously considered E. multilocularis-free, is now part of these new areas: infected foxes (the main definitive host of the tapeworm) have been observed in a Northern Alpine territory. Thus, more surveys need to be done in other Italian regions in order to monitor the spreading of E. multilocularis. The aim of the present study was to look for this parasite in 283 foxes collected in an Apennine area of Central Italy by different diagnostic methods. The foxes were heavily parasitized by 11 helminthic genera, but none of the animals was infected by E. multilocularis neither by E. granulosus (harboured adult worms or their DNA). Low specificity was observed in commercially available ELISA kits for the detection of E. multilocularis antigens in the faeces. Molecular diagnostics were sensitive and specific for the detection and identification of tapeworm eggs in faeces, but less sensitive, although specific, to adult tapeworms in the intestinal content. Preli...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 28, 2010·Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases·Simona GabrielliGabriella Cancrini
Jun 11, 2014·World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG·Pascal FreiStephan R Vavricka
Dec 16, 2011·Veterinary Parasitology·P W Hunt, J Lello
Jun 16, 2015·Liver Transplantation : Official Publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society·Bulent AydinliAbdurrahim Colak

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Datasets Mentioned

BETA
L49450
EU219537

Methods Mentioned

BETA
light-microscopy
ELISA
ELISAs
PCR
scrapings

Software Mentioned

Blast
Bioedit

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