Red foxes harbor two genetically distinct, spatially separated Echinococcus multilocularis clusters in Brandenburg,...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Wildlife Epidemiology

Background:

• Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis.
• Foxes are primary hosts for E. multilocularis, making them key sentinels for parasite distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis genotypes in foxes from Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
• To assess the potential for mixed infections within individual foxes.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping of E. multilocularis using three mitochondrial markers (Cox1, Nad1, ATP6) and the nuclear microsatellite marker EmsB.
• Analysis of EmsB fragment length profiles using Kohonen network and Sammon's mapping with k-means clustering.
• Spatial distribution analysis of EmsB genotypes in Brandenburg using SaTScan.

Main Results:

• Mixed infections with different E. multilocularis genotypes were detected in foxes from both surveyed regions.
• Mitochondrial markers indicated a European haplotype, but with limited heterogeneity for detailed spatial analysis.
• Four EmsB profiles (D, E, G, H) were identified, with profile G being the most prevalent.
• Spatial clusters of EmsB profiles G and D were identified in Brandenburg.

Conclusions:

• Individual foxes can harbor multiple genotypes of Echinococcus multilocularis.
• The EmsB marker is effective for identifying spatial clusters of E. multilocularis, aiding in understanding infection dynamics in wildlife.
• This research provides insights into the distribution and spread of AE in endemic areas.