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Canid immunity to Echinococcus spp.: impact on transmission
1WHO Collaborating Centre for Parasitic Zoonoses, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Winterthurestrasse 266a, Zürich, Switzerland. paul.torgerson@access.unizh.ch
Parasite Immunology
|July 18, 2006
Summary
Herd immunity in canids, like dogs and foxes, may stabilize Echinococcus parasite populations. This suggests reduced infection in canids won't decrease risks for intermediate hosts or humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Parasitology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Canid intestinal immunity recognizes Echinococcus parasites, but protection against reinfection is not fully understood.
- Age-related prevalence patterns of Echinococcus granulosus in dogs and Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes are increasingly observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of herd immunity in Echinococcus transmission dynamics within canid populations.
- To assess how age structure and infection pressure in canids influence parasite transmission to other hosts.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of age-related abundance and prevalence data from naturally infected dog and fox populations.
- Comparison of epidemiological models, including those incorporating herd immunity, to explain infection patterns.
Main Results:
- Data from dogs infected with E. granulosus fit a herd immunity model better than other models of age-related infection.
- Herd immunity is proposed as a stabilizing factor for Echinococcus parasite populations in canids.
Conclusions:
- Herd immunity in canids can stabilize Echinococcus populations, potentially decoupling infection pressure in canids from that in intermediate hosts and humans.
- Canid population age structure may significantly impact parasite transmission dynamics and overall Echinococcus epidemiology.