[Studies on the Incidence of Echinococcus Multilocularis in Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) in North-east, Central and South of Poland]

During the year 1994-1997, a total number of 1042 red foxes orginating from the 33 provinces North-East, Central and South of Poland under special safety procautions for intestinal stages of Echinococcus multilocularis using the mucosal-smer technique were examined. An average of 5.09% (53 foxes) from 10 provinces was infected. In those provinces, the prevalance varied between 1.19% to 35.71%. The infection varied from low to very high but mostly harboured gravid E. multilocularis parasites with thick-shelled eggs. Our data indicate that E. multilocularis in foxes has a surprisingly wide distribution in Poland. These new epidemiological data indicate that a potential risk of infection for humans may exists in all areas where foxes infected with E. multilocularis have been identified. It has been assumed that E. multilocularis might also occur in other provinces in which foxes examination have not yet been undertaken or number examined of animals was low. This study was supported by a two grands from the Swiss National Foundation (projects No 7PLPJ038414 and 7PLPJ041302).