J Vet Sci.  2007 Dec;8(4):313-321. 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.4.313.

Collaborative control initiatives targeting zoonotic agents of alveolar echinococcosis in the northern hemisphere

• Kamiya M

• KMID: 1106209
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2007.8.4.313

Abstract

Alveolar echinococcosis is one of the most important lethal zoonotic helminth infections in the northern hemisphere. Currently, the threat to public health is increasing, as evidenced by the rising prevalence rate of alveolar echinococcosis, as well as the invasion of urban areas by infected wild foxes. This threat is further increased due to the involvement of pet dogs, and probably cats, as emerging sources of infection. These increased threats to public health also have associated economic risks; therefore, there is a need for effective and sustainable methods of control. In this paper, initiatives to control alveolar echinococcosis by targeting its definitive hosts through anthelmintic baiting campaigns initiated by local residents who used local resources for bait production, distribution and collection of fecal samples for diagnosis are described. Further, when such distribution programs are coupled with the use of GIS-based maps, the optimum distribution of bait was obtained. These programs have also included the use of intravital diagnostic analyses of infection rates, which have been overseen by the Forum on Environment and Animals (FEA), and also allowed a nationwide monitoring of echinococcosis in difinitive hosts. In addition, a government initiative requiring mandatory reporting of echinococcosis in dogs to health authorities was recently initiated in Japan. Overall, the results of this study have shown that use of collaborative control initiatives targeting zoonotic agents of alveolar echinococcosis can be an effective method for reducing the threat of lethal echinococcosis in the northern hemisphere.

Keyword

alveolar echinococcosis; anthelmintic baiting; endogenous development; northern hemisphere; zoonosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anthelmintics/economics/therapeutic use
Echinococcosis, Hepatic/drug therapy/epidemiology/*parasitology/*prevention & control
Echinococcus/*physiology
Government Programs
Humans
Public Health/methods
*Zoonoses/epidemiology/parasitology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The approximate geographic distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in the northern hemisphere.

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  Fig. 2 Prevalence rates of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild foxes in Hokkaido island from 1980 to 2002 (necropsy survey data from the Hokkaido Government).

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  Fig. 3 Manufacture of baits using local resources such as the fish-waste products. Baits are fortified with praziquantel.

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