Estimating the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in a Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) population on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) is a crucial wild definitive host of Echinococcus cestodes on the Tibetan Plateau. Fecal detection of Echinococcus DNA (fecal prevalence) is commonly used to estimate Echinococcus spp. prevalence in canine populations (population prevalence). However, this approach may be biased without individual identification, when the same individuals are repeatedly sampled, potentially leading to the misestimation of exact population prevalence.

Methods

Fecal samples collected from Tibetan foxes in Shiqu County (2010-2012) were genotyped to identify individual foxes, followed by copro-PCR to determine the population prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in the genotyped foxes. A virtual resampling program was developed to assess sampling bias and

SUBMITTER: Zuo Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12822117 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature