Chemotherapy with praziquantel has the potential to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

• Published in: Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology 1997-03, Vol.91 (2), p.179-186
• Main Authors: Schelling, U., Frank, W., Will, R., Romig, T., Lucius, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Wild - parasitology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Anticestodal Agents - therapeutic use; Antiparasitic agents; Arvicolinae; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases caused by cestodes; Echinococcoses; Echinococcosis - drug therapy; Echinococcosis - epidemiology; Echinococcosis - veterinary; Foxes - parasitology; Germany - epidemiology; Helminthic diseases; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Population Density; Praziquantel - therapeutic use; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0003-4983; 1364-8594
• DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1997.11813128

In order to evaluate the applicability of anthelminthic treatment of wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to limit their infection with Echinococcus multilocularis, bait pellets, each containing 50 mg praziquantel, were repeatedly distributed in an area of 566 km 2 where many foxes are infected, in southern Germany. After six baiting campaigns (15-20 baits/km 2 ) over a period of 14 months, the prevalence of the cestode in foxes, initially 32%, had fallen to 4%. The effect was most pronounced in the central part of the treated area, where no positive fox was found in the 2 months before the end of the trial. The study was controlled for other factors that could influence the parasite's prevalence, such as the availability of intermediate hosts. While the potential of this baiting method to remove E. multilocularis from wild hosts has been demonstrated, the question of its long-term efficacy and other unresolved problems have to be addressed by consecutive studies before routine application can be recommended.