[Spatiotemporal analysis of the infection of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) with Echinococcus multilocularis in...

A total of 2757 Red Foxes from 952 locations were examined parasitologically for Echinococcus multilocularis between the years 1998 and 2007 at the State Office of Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt. This examination was carried out in parallel to rabies monitoring. A period-prevalence of 17.4% of infection was found. Employing different cluster tests spatial as well as spatiotemporal clusters were detected. Spatial clusters remained largely stable throughout the complete time interval and were situated in the Southwest of the state. Spatiotemporal clusters comprised the time intervals 2004-2007 and 2005-2007, respectively. It could be demonstrated that prevalence also increased significantly in the state's overall area for the time interval 2005-2007 as compared to the interval 1998-2004. The effect of this situation and development on the risk of humans to contract Alveolar Echinococcosis in Saxony-Anhalt is discussed.