Genetic diversity of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes at a continental scale in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe helminth disease affecting humans, which is caused by the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. AE represents a serious public health issue in larger regions of China, Siberia, and other regions in Asia. In Europe, a significant increase in prevalence since the 1990s is not only affecting the historically documented endemic area north of the Alps but more recently also neighbouring regions previously not known to be endemic. The genetic diversity of the parasite population and respective distribution in Europe have now been investigated in view of generating a fine-tuned map of parasite variants occurring in Europe. This approach may serve as a model to study the parasite at a worldwide level. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The genetic diversity of E. multilocularis was assessed based upon the tandemly repeated microsatellite marker EmsB in association with matching fox host geographical positions. Our study demonstrated a higher genetic diversity in the endemic areas north of the Alps when compared to other areas. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The study of the spatial distribution of E. multilocularis in Europe, based on 32 genetic clusters, suggests that Europe can be considered as a unique global focus of E. multilocularis, which can be schematically drawn as a central core located in Switzerland and Jura Swabe flanked by neighbouring regions where the parasite exhibits a lower genetic diversity. The transmission of the parasite into peripheral regions is governed by a "mainland-island" system. Moreover, the presence of similar genetic profiles in both zones indicated a founder event.

[An attempt to determine intermediate hosts of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis in Poland]. / Próba wykrycia zywicieli posrednich tasiemca Echinococcus multilocularis na terenie Polski.

Echinococcus multilocularis, a tiny tapeworm (2-3 mm in length) occurs in the small intestine of red foxes and raccoon dogs in Poland. Small rodents, intermediate hosts of the tapeworm can ingest parasite eggs excreted in faeces by final host. Humans can become infected by accidental ingestion of the eggs. The resulting disease, alveolar echinococcosis, potentially lethal zoonosis, typically presents as an infiltrative tumor-like growth in the liver, which may invade neighbouring organs. The objective of the study was to determine intermediate host species for E. multilocularis in Poland. During the years 2004-2006, a total of 1425 animals, i.e. 1170 rodents (14 species), 238 insectivores (4 species) and 17 Mustelids (3 species) were trapped and autopsied for the presence of E. multilocularis protoscolices (larvae). Animals were captured in northern, north-eastern, central and southern Poland, areas where the high prevalence of the tapeworm was recorded in foxes. In 44 (3.1%) of examined animals were found cysts in the liver, however no typical lesions were affirmed. Infection was not confirmed using PCR technique with primers specific for E. multilocularis (EmCA90, EmTriple83).

Infection of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with Echinococcus multilocularis during the years 2001-2004 in Poland.

During the period of 2001-2004, 1,514 red foxes from the north and the southeast of Poland were sampled and examined parasitologically for infections with Echinococcus multilocularis. A mean 23.8% were found infected in the whole study area. The highest prevalence (50.0-62.9%) was found in some counties in the northeastern (Warmia-Mazuria) and the southeastern (Carpathian Foothill) part of the country. During the study period, significant differences in the prevalence were found on a regional level. Based on the results obtained to date, the paper presents an overview of the current epidemiological situation of E. multilocularis in the fox population in Poland.

[Risk of alveococcosis for humans in Poland]. / Zagrozenie bablowica wielojamowa (alweokokoza) dla ludzi w Polsce.

The paper presents data on occurrence, diagnosis and treatment of alveolar echinococcosis in humans as well as possible methods of its prevention. Studies done in 2001-2003 in Poland have shown the high prevalence of the tapeworm in red foxes in the north-east (34.5%) and south-east (39.3%) of Poland with foci of infection in some counties (up to 70% foxes infected). It makes the high potential risk for human infection in these areas.

The study of cell and tissue mechanisms of the homeostasis of "helminth-host" system at muscle trichinellosis before and after the administration of a herb biostimulator and anthelminthic.

Results of micromorphological and histological studies of larvae of Trichinella spiralis and T. pseudospiralis, as well as, muscles, liver and small intestine of the rat-host before and after biostimulator administration of phytohemagglutinin and phytoanthelminthic were presented. It has been established that rats with Trichinella larvae of both species developed unspecific allergic angiomyositis, hepatitis, cholangitis, and erosio-haemorrhagic enterocolitis in the host's organism on the 35th day after infection. Furthermore, processes of compensatory hypertrophy, that support the host's (rats) homeostasis, on cell and tissue levels, were observed at histodestructional and morpho functional deficiency. It has been revealed that phytohemagglutinin, biostimulator injected into the host's organism before infection, is of immunostimulating nature and partially destroys the larvae of Trichinella. The phytoanthelminthic produces a significant trichinellocide effect: RNA synthesis and glycogen is intensified in the organs of the treated animals, their pathomicromorphogenesis weakened, and their compensatory and regenerative processes were observed. The combined use of the phytohemagglutinin and phytoanthelminthic fails to intensify the mentioned effect.