CHEMOTHERAPY WITH PRAZIQUANTEL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF ECHINOCOCCUS-MULTILOCULARIS IN WILD FOXES (VULPES-VULPES)

In order to evaluate the applicability of anthelminthic treatment of w ild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to limit their infection with Echinococcus m ultilocularis, bait pellets, each containing 50 mg praziquantel, were repeatedly distributed in an area of 566 km(2) where many foxes are in fected, in southern Germany. After six baiting campaigns (15-20 baits/ km(2)) over a period of 14 months, the prevalence of the cestode in fo xes, initially 32%, had fallen to 4%. The effect was most pronounced i n the central part of the treated area, where no positive fox was foun d in the 2 months before the end of the trial. The study was controlle d for other factors that could influence the parasite's prevalence, su ch as the availability of intermediate hosts. While the potential of t his baiting method to remove E. multilocularis from wild hosts has bee n demonstrated, the question of its long-term efficacy and other unres olved problems have to be addressed by consecutive studies before rout ine application can be recommended.