Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Echinococcus multilocularis in Estonia

2005; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Volume: 11; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3201/eid1112.050339

1080-6059

Epp Moks, Urmas Saarma, Harri Valdmann,

Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics

Echinococcus multilocularis in EstoniaTo the Editor: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by Echinococcus multilocularis is one of the most important emerging zoonosis in Europe.The fatality rate is >90% in untreated patients (1).In Europe, the distribution range of the zoonotic tapeworm E. multilocularis has expanded over the last few decades, and the parasite attracts increasing awareness as a public health issue (2-5).In 2003, AE was added to the list of zoonoses to be monitored in the member states of the European Union, according to Directive 2003/99/EC.This is the first report of E. multilocularis in Estonia, which extends its northern distribution in Europe.Results of examinations of 17 red foxes shot in the eastern (Võnnu and Räpina) and western (Hiiumaa) districts of Estonia from February to December 2003 were included in this study.We examined the intestinal tracts by the sedimentation and counting technique as described (1).Echinococcus adult stages were found in 5 foxes (29.4%).Two foxes, infected with 3 and 5 adult worms, were from the Räpina district; 2 foxes, infected with 66 and 133 worms, were from the Võnnu district; and 1 fox, infected with the highest number of worms (927), was from the Hiiumaa District.The worms were retrieved, counted, washed, and stored in 90% ethanol until DNA purification.The parasites were identified as E. multilocularis, based on the most important morphometric parameters of adult stages (length of worms, number of proglottids, terminal proglottids in percentage of total worm length, position of genital pore, and form of uterus) (2).To confirm the taxonomic status of the worms, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted, followed by