A fifteen-year-investigation on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in the red fox population of Lower Saxony - An overview

Human alveolar Echinococcosis caused by the larval mass of the small fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is considered to be the most dangerous parasitic zoonosis in Central Europe. Although the incidence of human infection is extremely low, in untreated patients the disease is mostly lethal and treatment requires high expense. During 1991 until 2005 a monitoring-program on the prevalence rate of E. multilocularis in the red fox population of Lower Saxony was conducted wherein about 9000 foxes were investigated. The results are reported and increasing prevalence rates as well as the occurrence of spatial high-risc-areas are discussed. Based on these results further investigation of musc rats and raccoon dogs are considered to be necessary.