Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports2020; 22; 100486; doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100486

Echinococcus multilocularis infection in horses in Poland.

Abstract: A cross-sectional survey was performed to obtain first information on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in slaughter horses from central, eastern and southern Poland, a country with a highly endemic occurrence of this tapeworm in red foxes. White tough nodular lesions being 3-10 mm in size, sharply demarcated and spherically or irregularly shaped were found in 54 of 365 livers examined. Histologically, focal granulomatous necrotizing inflammations and sometimes PAS-positive acellular lamellar structures being characteristic of the E. multilocularis metacestode stage were visible; protoscoleces were not found. E. multilocularis DNA was detected in six of 19 hepatic lesions examined by nested PCR. Our results from molecular and morphological diagnostics suggest an overall prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis between 4.7% and 14.8% in the horse population studied. Horses as dead-end hosts do not play any role in the life cycle of E. multilocularis but may serve as additional sentinel animals in monitoring the environmental contamination with tapeworm eggs.
Publication Date: 2020-11-04 PubMed ID: 33308759DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100486Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis (a type of tapeworm) infection in horses in Poland. The study found that between 4.7% and 14.8% of the examined horses were infected, despite the fact that horses, as dead-end hosts, do not contribute to the life cycle of the parasite.

Why the study was conducted

  • The study was designed to gather initial data on the occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis, a dangerous tapeworm, in horses in central, eastern and southern Poland. This area is known for a high prevalence of this tapeworm in red foxes.

Methods used in the study

  • The researchers examined the livers of 365 slaughtered horses.
  • Horses were checked for the presence of white, tough nodular lesions of 3-10mm in size, which are characteristic of the infection.
  • 19 of the hepatic lesions were subjected to nested PCR for detecting E. multilocularis DNA.

Findings of the study

  • Nodular lesions were discovered in the livers of 54 horses, out of which 6 tested positive for E. multilocularis DNA.
  • On a histological level, the researchers observed granulomatous necrotizing inflammations, which are typically associated with E. multilocularis infections. However, protoscoleces (parasite larvae) were not detected.

Implications of the study

  • The study suggests the prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis (caused by tapeworm E. multilocularis) in the examined horse population is between 4.7% and 14.8%.
  • These findings shed light on the potential health risk to horses in Poland from Echinococcus multilocularis infection.
  • This research identifies horses as possible sentinel animals, meaning that monitoring horses for this infection could provide early warning of environmental contamination with tapeworm eggs.

Cite This Article

APA
Tomczuk K, Hirzmann J, Ku00f6hler K, Szczepaniak K, Studzinska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeu0144-Karczmarz M, Bauer C. (2020). Echinococcus multilocularis infection in horses in Poland. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 22, 100486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100486

Publication

ISSN: 2405-9390
NlmUniqueID: 101680410
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 22
Pages: 100486
PII: S2405-9390(20)30267-7

Researcher Affiliations

Tomczuk, Krzysztof
  • Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Hirzmann, Ju00f6rg
  • Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Ku00f6hler, Kernt
  • Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Szczepaniak, Klaudiusz
  • Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Studzinska, Maria
  • Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Demkowska-Kutrzepa, Marta
  • Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Roczeu0144-Karczmarz, Monika
  • Sub-Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Life Sciences, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Bauer, Christian
  • Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: bauer.eisern@gmail.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echinococcosis / epidemiology
  • Echinococcosis / veterinary
  • Foxes
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Poland / epidemiology

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Hifumi T, Tanaka T, Sato M, Akioka K, Fujimata C, Miyoshi N. Rapid detection of alveolar echinococcosis in hepatic nodules of horses by recombinase polymerase amplification assay.. Vet Anim Sci 2023 Jun;20:100291.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2023.100291pubmed: 36936549google scholar: lookup