Echinococcus multilocularis in Slovak Republic: The first record in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Echinococcus multilocularis was found for the first time in the Slovak Repu blic in 6 of 56 feaces of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (prevalence 10.7%). Ech inococcus spp. coproantigens were detected using sandwich enzyme-linked imm unosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) in 6 of 28 red foxes (positivity 24.4%). The gravid proglottides of E. multilocularis or cestode eggs of the Taenia- type were detected in five samples and eggs alone in one sample. The specie s of E. multilocularis was detected in three samples and confirmed by using the nested PCR. This finding in the Slovak Republic indicated the risk of the spread of this severe helminthic zoonosis.