Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Echinococcus multilocularis in south-eastern Europe (Romania)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in humans, has been found in 4.8% of 561 red foxes originating from various regions of Romania. Infected foxes were identified in 8 of 15 counties with average prevalence rates between 1.7% and 14.6%. In previous studies, E. multilocularis was not found in 535 foxes from three counties, but larval stages (metacestodes) were present in four species of rodents. Furthermore, AE was diagnosed in two patients. Experiences from other European regions indicate that several factors (such as increasing fox populations with higher parasite prevalences and urban cycles of the parasite) may result in an increased infection risk for humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altintas N (2003) Past to present: echinococcosis in Turkey. Acta Trop 85:105–112

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antolova D, Reiterova K, Miterpakova M, Dinkel A, Dubinsky P (2009) The first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in dogs in Slovakia: an emerging risk for spreading of infection. Zoonoses Public Health 56:53–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bagrade G, Šnábel V, Romig T, Ozoliņš J, Hüttner M, Miterpáková M, Ševcová D, Dubinský P (2008) Echinococcus multilocularis is a frequent parasite of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Latvia. Helminthologia 45:157–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berke O, Romig T, von Keyerlingk M (2008) Emergence of Echinococcus multilocularis among red foxes in northern Germany, 1991–2005. Vet Parasitol 155:319–322

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bessonov AS (1998) Echinococcus multilocularis infection in Russia and neighboring countries. Helminthologia 35:73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessonov AS (2000) Echinococcoses of animals and humans in the Russian Federation. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Cestode Zoonoses: Echinococcosis and Cysticercosis: An Emergent and Global Problem, 10–13 September, Poznan, Poland. Available at http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract

  • Bessonov AS (2002) Echinococcoses of animals and humans in the Russian Federation. In: Craig PS, Pawlowski Z (eds) Cestode Zoonoses: an emergent and global problem. NATO Sciences Series 341:91–98

  • Bondareva VI (1966) Pyatnistaya koshka (Felis libica)—novy definitivinyi khozyain alveokokka. Materialy k nauchnym konferentsitam vsesoiuznogo obschestva gel’mintologov. Moscow, UdSSR, 47–50

  • Bružinskaitė R, Marcinkutė A, Strupas K, Sokolovas V, Deplazes P, Mathis A, Eddi C, Šarkunas M (2007) Alveolar echinococcosis, Lithuania. Emerg Infect Dis 13:1618–1619

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bružinskaitė R, Šarkunas M, Torgerson PR, Mathis A, Deplazes P (2009) Echinococcosis in pigs and intestinal infection with Echinococcocus spp. in dogs in southwestern Lithuania. Vet Parasitol 160:237–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casulli A, Széll Z, Pozio E, Sréter T (2010) Spatial distribution and genetic diversity of Echinococcusmultilocularis in Hungary. Vet Parasitol (in press)

  • Dubinsky P, Svobodova V, Turcekova L, Literak I, Martinek K, Reiterova K, Kolarova L, Klimes J, Mrlik V (1999) Echinococcus multilocularis in Slovak Republic: the first record in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Helminthologia 36:105–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinsky P, Várady M, Reiterová K, Miterpáková M, Turceková L (2001) Prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes in the Slovak Republik. Helminthologia 38:215–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinsky P, Malczewski A, Miterpakova M, Gawor J, Reiterova K (2006) Echinococcus multilocularis in the red fox Vulpes vulpes from the East Carpathian region of Poland and the Slovak Republic. J Helminthol 80:243–247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert J, Conraths FJ, Tackmann K (2000) Echinococcosis: an emerging or re-emerging zoonosis? Int J Parasitol 30:1283–1294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert J, Deplazes P (2004) Biological, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of echinococcosis, a zoonosis of increasing concern. Clin Microbiol Rev 17:107–135

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genov T, Svilenov D, Polyakova-Krusteva O (1980) The natural occurrence of Alveococcus multilocularis in the Microtus nivalis in Bulgaria. C R Acad Bulg Sci 33:981–984

    Google Scholar 

  • Gevorkian IH (1958) Ob al’veolyarnom ekhinokokkoze v Armanskoi S.S.R. I nekotorye voprosy ego simptomatologii I lecheniya. Novy khirurgicheskii arkhiv. Kiev 3:95–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Gherman C, Cozma V, Mircean V, Brudasca F, Rus N, Detasan A (2002) Helminthic zoonoses in wild carnivours species from Romanian fauna. Scient Parasitol 2:17–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer S, Gloor S, Müller U, Mathis A, Hegglin D, Deplazes P (2000) High prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and voles (Arvicola terrestris) in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. Parasitology 120:135–142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kern P, Bardonnet K, Renner E, Auer H, Pawlowski Z, Ammann RW, Vuitton DA, Kern P, European Echinococcosis Registry (2003) European echinococcosis registry: human alveolar echinococcosis, Europe, 1982–2000. Emerg Infect Dis 9:343–349

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kharchenko VA, Kornyushin VV, Varodi EI, Malega OM (2008) Occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis (Cestoda, Taeniidae) in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Western Ukraine. Acta Parasitol 53:36–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kincekova J, Hrckova G, Bober J, Vrzgula A, Szabadosova V, Bohus P, Zachar M (2008) A rare case of alveolar echinococcosis in a 14-year-old child. Helminthologia 45:28–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolárová L (1999) Echinococcus multilocularis: new epidemiological insights in Central and Eastern Europe. Helminthologia 36:193–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Logar J, Soba B, Lejko-Zupanc T, Kotar T (2007) Human alveolar echinococcosis in Slovenia. Clin Microbiol Infect 13:544–546

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukashenko NP (1971) Problems of epidemiology and prophylaxis of alveococcosis (Multilocular echinococcosis): a general review—with particular reference to the U.S.S.R. Int J Parasitol 1:125–134

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukashenko NP (1972) Epidemiology and prevention of alveococcosis (alveolar echinococcosis). Med Parazitol (Mosk) 41:326–336

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukashenko NP, Ivchenko NS, Vol’fson AG (1970) Natural foci of alveococcosis in the Magadan region. Med Parazitol (Mosk) 39:437–442

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malczewski A, Rocki B, Ramisz A, Eckert J (1995) Echinococcus multilocularis (Cestoda), the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis in humans: first record in Poland. J Parasitol 81:318–321

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malczewski A, Gawor J, Malczewska M (2008) Infection of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with Echinococcus multilocularis during the years 2001–2004 in Poland. Parasitol Res 103:501–505

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manfredi MT, Casulli A, La Rosa G, Di Cerbo AR, Trevisio K, Genchi C, Pozio E (2006) Echinococcus multilocularis in north Italy. Parassitologia 48:43–46

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mažeika V, Paulauskas A, Balčauskas L (2003) New data on the helminth fauna of rodents of Lithuania. Acta Zool Lithua 13:41–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Mažeika V, Kontenytė R, Paulauskas A (2009) New data on the helminthes of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Lithuania. Eston J Ecol 58:103–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moks E, Saarma U, Valdmann H (2005) Echinococcus multilocularis in Estonia. Emerg Infect Dis 11:1973–1974

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panaitescu D, şi Pop M (1999) Alveococoza la om. Rev Rom Parazitol 9(2):55

    Google Scholar 

  • Romig T, Dinkel A, Mackenstedt U (2006) The present situation of echinococcosis in Europe. Parasitol Int 55:187–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savlovschi C (2000) Un caz de hidatidoză splenică alveolară. Rev Rom Parazitol 10(1):16–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweiger A, Ammann RW, Candinas D, Clavien PA, Eckert J, Gottstein B, Halkic N, Muellhaupt B, Prinz BM, Reichen J, Tarr PE, Torgerson PR, Deplazes P (2007) Human alveolar echinococcosis after fox population increase, Switzerland. Emerg Infect Dis 13:878–882

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shimalov VV, Shimalov VT (2001) Alveolar echinococcosis in Belorussian polesie. Parazitologiia 35:145–148

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimalov VV, Shimalov VT (2003) Helminth fauna of red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) in southern Belarus. Parasitol Res 89:77–78

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sikó BS (1992) Some morphologycally aspects on alveolar hydatidosis in animals. Rom Vet Rev 2:151–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikó BS (1993) Morphologycally aspects concerning alveolar hydatidosis in wild rodents. Rom Vet Rev 3:214–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikó BS, Bokor E, Fekeás E, Nemes I, Murai E, Gubányi A (1995) Occurrence and epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis in the Covasna county, East Carpathian Mountains, Romania. Parasitol Hung 28:43–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Sréter T, Szell Z, Egyed Z, Varga I (2003) Echinococcus multilocularis: an emerging pathogen in Hungary and Central Eastern Europe? Emerg Infect Dis 9:384–386

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sréter T, Szell Z, Sréter Z, Varga I (2004) Echinococcus multilocularis in Northern Hungary. Emerg Infect Dis 10:1344–1346

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner F, Hegglin D, Thoma R, Brosi G, Deplazes P (2006) Echinococcus multilocularis in Graubünden: Verbreitung bei Füchsen und Vorkommen potentieller Zwischenwirte. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 148:501–510

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Theodoropoulos G, Kolitsopoulos A, Archimandritis A, Melissinos K (1978) Echinococcose alvéolaire hépatique. Trois observations en Gèce. Presse Méd 7:3056

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trachsel D, Deplazes P, Mathis A (2007) Identification of taeniid eggs in the faeces of carnivores based on multiplex PCR using targets in mithocondrial DNA. Parasitology 134:911–920

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uysal V, Paksoy N (1986) Echinococcus multilocularis in Turkey. J Trop Med Hyg 89:249–255

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varodi EI, Korniushin VV, Kharchenko VA, Malega AM (2006) Findings of Alveococcus multilocularis (Leuckart, 1863) in foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) in Volynsk Region (Ukraine). In: Fauna, biology, morphology and systematic of parasites. The Proceedings of International Symposium, 19–21 April, Moscow, pp 61–63

  • WHO/OIE (2001) Manual on echinococcosis in humans and animals: a public health problem of global concern. In: Eckert J, Gemmell MA, Meslin FX, Pawlowski ZS (eds) World Organisation of Animal Health, Paris, ISBN 92-9044-522-X

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Echino-News Assoc. Romania, 520036-Sf.Gheorghe, Ciucului Str. 149, Covasna County, Romania

    Sandor B. Sikó

  2. Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Peter Deplazes

  3. Veterinary and Food-Safety Direction, Satu Mare County, Romania

    C. Ceica & C. S. Tivadar

  4. Veterinary and Food-Safety Direction, Bistrita Nasaud County, Romania

    I. Bogolin

  5. Veterinary and Food-Safety Laboratory, Bihor County, Romania

    S. Popescu

  6. Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Parasitology and Parasitological Diseases Unit, Agricultural Sci. and Veterinary Medicine Univ.Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur, no.3–5, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    V. Cozma

Authors
  1. Sandor B. Sikó
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Deplazes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Ceica
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. S. Tivadar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I. Bogolin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Popescu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. V. Cozma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Deplazes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sikó, S.B., Deplazes, P., Ceica, C. et al. Echinococcus multilocularis in south-eastern Europe (Romania). Parasitol Res 108, 1093–1097 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2150-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2150-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation