Predictors of Echinococcus multilocularis prevalence in definitive and intermediate hosts:a meta-analysis approach

Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) is a pathogenic and potentially fatal cestode causing human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A meta-analysis was conducted using a generalized estimation equation approach (GEE) to assess the effect of taxonomic, environmental and diagnostic variables on EM prevalence i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Parasitology
Main Authors: Takeuchi-Storm, Nao, Woolsey, Ian David, Jensen, Per Moestrup, Fredensborg, Brian Lund, Pipper, Christian Bressen, Kapel, Christian Moliin Outzen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2015
Subjects:
Canis lupus
Online Access:https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/predictors-of-echinococcus-multilocularis-prevalence-in-definitive-and-intermediate-hosts(23c81a7a-4901-41d3-a375-51f7533cbe83).html
https://doi.org/10.1645/14-645.1
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Summary:Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) is a pathogenic and potentially fatal cestode causing human alveolar echinococcosis (AE). A meta-analysis was conducted using a generalized estimation equation approach (GEE) to assess the effect of taxonomic, environmental and diagnostic variables on EM prevalence in different hosts. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) had significantly higher prevalence of EM than domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), with the diagnostic method playing an important factor in assessing prevalence. For intermediate hosts genera was significantly associated with EM prevalence although there was some indication of publication bias in this dataset. This study also highlights the possible importance of temperature and precipitation to EM transmission. This implies the possibility of a changing climate affecting the future distribution of the parasite.

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