Echinococcus multilocularis infection in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on Prince Edward Island, Canada

Molecular identification of small cestodes, morphologically consistent with Echinococcus multilocularis, recovered at necropsy from the gastrointestinal tract contents of a red fox, was accomplished by PCR using published species-specific n ad1 primers and methods.

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Small cestodes recovered from intestinal contents of a red fox trapped on Prince Edward Island in December 2020 (frozen at -20°C before being processed for parasite recovery in June 2021) were morphologically identified. Species identity confirmation and haplotyping of the cestodes were done via PCR and DNA sequencing of the n ad1, nad2, and cob genes.

Small cestodes morphologically consistent with E. multilocularis were detected in the gastrointestinal tract contents of a red fox trapped near Montague, PEI. The species identity was confirmed via PCR. Haplotyping revealed that they were of the European E1 haplotype.

In Canada, E. multilocularis has been reported as far east as Québec, with most reports being in central and western provinces and territories. This is the first report of E. multilocularis infection in a canid host east of Ontario, Canada and illustrates the need for regular wildlife disease surveillance to enhance our understanding of emerging pathogens of veterinary and medical importance.

Echinococcus multilocularis is a highly pathogenic zoonotic cestode from the family Taeniidae that can cause alveolar echinococcosis (AE) when rodents, dogs, horses, pigs, non-human primates, or humans ingest its eggs. Alveolar echinococcosis is challenging to treat, and survival rates for untreated individuals are low.