The small fox tapeworm
This is what you should know about it!
Just like other animals, the fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a host for a number of pathogenic organisms (viruses,
bacteria’s, and worms). When coming in contact with animals, aside from having a chance at physical
violence, it is possible to get a disease transferred from the animal to you as a person (a zoönosis). One
of those organisms is the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis).
The fox tapeworm is a small tapeworm (length 2-6mm), that occurs in the small intestine of the fox.
The fox can sometimes be a wearer of this parasite, just like any rodent living in the wild (rats, mice,
etc.). Incidentally, your dog or cat can also be a wearer.
Where does the fox tapeworm occur?
Traditionally, the fox
tapeworm can be
found in CentralEurope, in particular
SouthGermany,
Switzerland, Austria
and the eastern part of
France. In German areas we are often warned in
wooded areas with the notice “Achtung
Fuchsbandwurm”.
of the fox tapeworm in the Belgian fox population
isn’t equally divided over the different tracts:
o
In the Ardennes there are areas known
where up to 33% of all foxes can be a
wearer of the fox tapeworm. We
consider Central- Europe, the region
between Samber and Maas and several
places on the Ardennes Plateau as an
endemic region. For the Condroz the
percentage of infected foxes is 13%;
o
In Flanders, about 1% of the foxes is
infected with the fox tapeworm.
Since 1996 we have discovered that the fox
tapeworm also occurs in foxes in the Belgium.
One should, however, keep in mind that locally the
Research has shown that the occurrence
infection rate in Flanders can still be higher (1 fox
is all it takes to infect a region of about 10km2).
Initiative of the Ministry of Flanders Community, Team Health Inspection
How does the contamination
happen?
In excreta of an infected fox you will find pieces of
tapeworm with eggs. These can be taken in by
small rodents, but also by people (see sketch on
the right).
The eggs aren’t visible for the human eye, but will
stick to anything they come in touch with. They
survive freezing at -18 oC, but will be destroyed at
a temperature of 60 oC. These eggs can infect a
human through different ways:
o
The consumption of wild berries
(blackberries,
raspberries
and
blueberries) self-plucked mushrooms
and fruits. Not just berries that grow
low to the ground can be a potential
infection source. Eggs that end up in the
environment through fox excreta can
end up on higher growing berries due to
rain and wind.
o
Eating with dirty hands
o
Gardening, where soil particles infected
with eggs stick to your hands.
Also consumption of vegetables from
the garden can cause an infection.
o
Contact with fur and excreta from
infected foxes
o
Cotact with (hunting)dogs and pets,
who are infected with this tapeworm.
Your cat regularly eats mice…
In the liver, a larvae from a tapeworm can grow
into a cyst. Without treatment the organ will be
destroyed bit by bit. Metastasis to other organs is
possible. As an effect cysts will grow there as well.
Initiative of the Ministry of Flanders Community, Team Health Inspection
Risks for humans?
Alveolar echinooccose is a very rare but very
serious disease, that has only been determined
6 times in Belgium since 1999.
After taking in the tapeworm eggs it takes many
years before the first symptoms show (5 to 15
years). Those symptom’s aren’t exactly specific
and can consist of stomach aches, dyspnea
and/or
icterus.
Provisionally, medication or surgery will only
cause stabilization of your condition at best.
Prognosis without treatment is usually very bad,
having death as a result in 70 to 90% of all cases.
o
Thoroughly rinse, and if possible cook
(10 minutes at 60 oC, 5 minutes at
70 oC or 1 minute at 100 oC) berries
(like blackberries, raspberries and
blueberries), self-plucked mushrooms
and fruits before consuming them.
o
Wash your hands well after gardening
or other labor involving soil/dirt.
o
Only handle foxes (shot or dead)
wearing gloves. Transport of such
foxes must only happen when
wrapped in well closed plastic bags.
o
Wash dogs that are being used during
foxhunts, especially when these dogs
are being used in the Ardennes or
European endemic areas, de-worm
every 3-4 weeks.
o
Regularly take your pets to a
veterinarian for a check-up.
Dogs and cats can be wearer of the fox
tapeworm, but they won’t have any symptoms
from this.
Precautions
To keep the risk insignificantly small, all that’s
needed is to keep a few simple hygienic
precautions in mind:
Finally:
Chances of infection are very small, intervention in the fox population won’t decrease the risks as
such that it’s worth mentioning.
Initiative of the Ministry of Flanders Community, Team Health Inspection