Microtus arvalis and Arvicola scherman: Key Players in the Echinococcus multilocularis Life Cycle.

ABSTRACT: A broad range of rodent species are described as potential intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, a wide-spread zoonotic cestode causing alveolar echinococcosis. However, little is known about the relative contribution of these species for parasite reproduction and the maintenance of its life cycle. In a comparative study in a high endemic region in Zurich, Switzerland, we investigated prevalence rates and fertility of E. multilocularis in the most abundant vole species as well as the predation rate of foxes on these species. To ensure that the fox families had access to different vole species and that these voles were exposed to the same environmental contamination with parasite eggs, we selected eight study plots where at least two rodent species co-occurred. The parasite pr

SUBMITTER: Beerli O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5733337 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature