Prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in southern Belgium

Between June 1998 and February 2002, 709 red foxes killed in Wallonia (south of Belgium) were available for parasitological examination of the gut. The identification of Echinococcus multilocularis was based on morphological data. E. multilocularis adults were observed in 20.2% of the animals. The analysis of data revealed marked differences between the geological areas of Wallonia; the highest prevalence (33%) was found in the Ardenne and the lowest (0%) on the Plateau de Herve. Host gender and the collection season had no effect on the prevalence. However, the latter was significantly higher in juveniles (<8 months of age). The geographical distribution of E. multilocularis in Belgium is much wider than originally thought.