Medycyna Wet. 64 (10), 1237-1239, 2008
| Karamon J., Ziomko I., Cencek T., Sroka J., Zi?ba P. |
| Prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes in the Lublin voivodeship, Poland: preliminary study |
| The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and the intensity of Echinococcus multilocularis invasion in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Lublin voivodeship, Poland, taking into consideration the localisation of these parasites in intestinal parties. The material for examination consisted of small intestines from foxes shot in the year 2007, free from rabies and derived from all 20 districts of the Lublin voivodeship. Samples were examined with the use of the sedimentation counting technique (SCT) modified for these study purposes. Each intestine was divided into 3 equal parts (anterior, medium, posterior) and each part was examined separately. Overall, intestines from 138 foxes were examined. E. multilocularis invasion was detected in 26 foxes (18.8%). Tapeworms were most frequently detected in the posterior part of the intestine (96.6% of invaded foxes). In the middle and anterior parts, E. multilocularis were detected in 76.9 and 57.7% of the invaded foxes respectively. The mean intensity of invasion was 612.3 tapeworms per fox. The intensity of invasion was significantly lower in the anterior part of the intestine in comparison to middle and posterior parts in which the intensity did not differ. Preliminary study showed a high percentage of foxes infected with E. multilocularis tapeworms in the Lublin voivodeship. The increasing prevalence of this parasite in foxes shows the growing danger from echinococcosis for inhabitants of this province. This is particularly essential in the situation when the population of foxes is increasing and changes of their behaviour are observed - among others, more frequent moving close to human settlements |
| Keywords: Echinococcus multilocularis, foxes, Poland |