Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis antigens in faeces by ELISA.

Faecal samples deriving from 391 animals belonging to nine species (polecats, badgers, martens, weasels, rats, dogs, cats, red foxes, raccoon-dogs) were examined by capture ELISA for the presence of the Echinococcus multilocularis coproantigen. The main claim of our studies is the reliable detection of E. multilocularis coproantigens, mainly in the faeces of foxes, dogs and cats. For the first time in coproantigen detection we used a "double-sandwich" ELISA. The main advantage of this method is the higher specificity and better differentiation of positive and negative faecal samples, in comparison with sandwich ELISA. The overall specificity of double-sandwich ELISA was 95.1% with only 16 of 327 E. multilocularis-free animals giving false-positive results. The E. multilocularis coproantigen was detected by double-sandwich ELISA in 37.5% of examined red foxes and in 8.0% of examined raccoon-dogs, compared with a prevalence of just 29.8% in red foxes and 8.0% in raccoon-dogs, as determined by parasitological techniques.

[Studies on the incidence of echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in north-east, central and south of Poland]. / Badania nad wystepowaniem tasiemca Echinococcus multilocularis u lisów rudych (Vulpes vulpes) w Polsce pólnocno-wschodniej, srodkowej i poludniowej.

During the year 1994-1997, a total number of 1042 red foxes orginating from the 33 provinces North-East, Central and South of Poland under special safety procautions for intestinal stages of Echinococcus multilocularis using the mucosal-smer technique were examined. An average of 5.09% (53 foxes) from 10 provinces was infected. In those provinces, the prevalance varied between 1.19% to 35.71%. The infection varied from low to very high but mostly harboured gravid E. multilocularis parasites with thick-shelled eggs. Our data indicate that E. multilocularis in foxes has a surprisingly wide distribution in Poland. These new epidemiological data indicate that a potential risk of infection for humans may exists in all areas where foxes infected with E. multilocularis have been identified. It has been assumed that E. multilocularis might also occur in other provinces in which foxes examination have not yet been undertaken or number examined of animals was low. This study was supported by a two grands from the Swiss National Foundation (projects No 7PLPJ038414 and 7PLPJ041302).

Echinococcus multilocularis (Cestoda), the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis in humans: first record in Poland.

Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, was found for the first time in Poland in 2 of 20 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), originating from the area of Gdansk (northern Poland). This finding supports the hypothesis that the endemic area of this parasite in central Europe (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, and Austria) is not an isolated focus as previously anticipated but is connected with the large endemic zone in Russia.