Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in Carnivores in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran Using Mitochondrial DNA

Molouk Beiromvand,Ahmad Reza Meamar,Elham Razmjou,Abbas Motevalian,Seyed Hossein Fattahi Massom,Iraj Mobedi,Lame Akhlaghi,Hormozd Oormazdi,Ana Flisser

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001379

Abstract

Background Echinococcus multilocularis is the source of alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. This investigation assessed the presence of E. multilocularis infection in definitive hosts in the Chenaran region of Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran.Methodology/Principal FindingsFecal samples from 77 domestic and stray dogs and 14 wild carnivores were examined using the flotation/sieving method followed by multiplex PCR of mitochondrial genes. The intestinal scraping technique (IST) and the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) revealed adult Echinococcus in the intestines of five of 10 jackals and of the single wolf examined. Three jackals were infected only with E. multilocularis but two, and the wolf, were infected with both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus. Multiplex PCR revealed E. multilocularis, E. granulosus, and Taenia spp. in 19, 24, and 28 fecal samples, respectively. Echinococcus multilocularis infection was detected in the feces of all wild carnivores sampled including nine jackals, three foxes, one wolf, one hyena, and five dogs (6.5%). Echinococcus granulosus was found in the fecal samples of 16.9% of dogs, 66.7% of jackals, and all of the foxes, the wolf, and the hyena. The feces of 16 (21.8%) dogs, 7 of 9 (77.8%) jackals, and all three foxes, one wolf and one hyena were infected with Taenia spp.Conclusions/SignificanceThe prevalence of E. multilocularis in wild carnivores of rural areas of the Chenaran region is high, indicating that the life cycle is being maintained in northeastern Iran with the red fox, jackal, wolf, hyena, and dog as definitive hosts.

Highlights

Echinococcus multilocularis is the agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease [1,2]
The life cycle of E. multilocularis is sylvatic; adult worms are found in wild carnivores, principally foxes, and in the raccoon dog, wolf, coyote, and jackal, while their metacestodes develop in small mammals, predominantly rodents such as Cricetidae, Arvicolidae, and Muridae [3,4,5,6,7]
In the Middle East, cystic echinococcosis is prevalent in most countries, a low prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis is reported in Iran, Iraq, and Tunisia [16]

Summary

Introduction

Echinococcus multilocularis is the agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease [1,2]. Human alveolar echinococcosis is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by infection with the multivesiculated metacestode of E. multilocularis [11,12]. Alveolar echinococcosis, based on histopathological and clinical data, was first reported in a village in Chenaran County of Razavi Khorasan Province in 2007 [24]. Echinococcus multilocularis is the source of alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. This investigation assessed the presence of E. multilocularis infection in definitive hosts in the Chenaran region of Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran

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Conclusion