MONITORING OF ECHINOCOCCUS-MULTILOCULARIS INFECTION IN RED FOXES IN SHIRETOKO, JAPAN, BY COPROANTIGEN DETECTION

The study was conducted to evaluate a mAb-based coproantigen detection assay for monitoring fox prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in fections in the Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, Japan. Eight fox families, each consisting of 2-4 adults and their pups, were selected because their territories have been determined. Faeces of each family (total n = 537) were collected monthly from April to October, 1994. De tection of coproantigen and taeniid eggs was recognized in 58 and 27 f aeces, respectively, but mostly restricted in 1 family, in which copro antigen ELISA OD values had dual peaks, one in June and the other in O ctober, whereas taeniid eggs were detected only from April to July. Fo x pup faeces (n = 51) collected around the dens used by the positive f amily were all coproantigen and taeniid egg negative except for 1 faec es. These results suggest that the prevalence and infection pressure i n the study area were low and the infected family terminated the infec tion in the summer and acquired a new one in the early autumn, 1994. T his monitoring method for fox infection will be a practical management tool for E. multilocularis infection, especially at the tourist spots in Hokkaido where close contact of fox with humans is frequently obse rved.