[Prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes in Styria taking into consideration biometrical methods]

The results of a survey covering whole of Styria/Austria, which was based on a biometrical sampling plan, showed the prevalence rate of E. multilocularis among foxes to be 3.6% (18 out of 500 examined foxes). There is however a significant regional difference in the prevalence rate. All 18 infected foxes were found in the North-West of Styria, which results in an estimated proportion of 9% in this region. The study could not reveal any significant difference between male and female foxes concerning the infection rate. The age distribution was 67 percent juvenile foxes (< 1 year) to 33 percent adults. The biometrical methods enable us to determine an exact spatial spread of the parasite and thus makes it possible to find out any potential risk for the population.