Fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) in Slovakia — summarizing the long-term monitoring

Detailed epidemiological survey on distribution of fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis was carried out in the territory of Slovakia between 2000 and 2010. A total of 4 761 red foxes from all districts of Slovakia were investigated using modified sedimentation and counting method. E. multilocularis was found in small intestines of 1 441 animals that represent an overall prevalence of 30.3 %. The number of tapeworms found in individual foxes varied between 1 and 245 000 specimens with mean worm burden of 1 777. The results of decennial epizootological research confirmed the existence of highly endemic localities with E. multilocularis occurrence in northern regions of Slovakia. Till today, 16 human cases of alveolar echinococcosis were registered whereas 14 of them were diagnosed in patients living in endemic localities.