Alveolar echinococcosis in a captive red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)

A 2.5-year old male red-necked wallaby (Macropodus rufogriseus) kept privately in an outdoor enclosure in Germany died with severe jaundice and abdominal enlargement. Post mortem examination revealed ascites, and multiple nodular lesions in liver, diaphragm, omentum, mesentery, spleen, lung, hepatic and thoracic lymph nodes. Histologically, the nodules consisted of predominantly fertile larval tissue of a taeniid cestode, necrosis and granulomatous inflammation. Echinococcus multilocularis infection was confirmed by PCR. Macropodids have therefore to be added to the list of intermediate hosts which can develop alveolar echinococcosis.