Spreading of multilocular echinococcosis in southern Europe: the first record in foxes and jackals in Serbia, Vojvodina Province

Abstract

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Foxes and jackals from the Vojvodina Province of Serbia were examined for the presence of echinococcosis. Animals were collected as part of routine rabies monitoring and autopsied; their intestines were checked for parasites. Out of 112 examined foxes, echinococcosis was found in 20 (17.9 %); of 28 examined jackals, 4 were infected (14.3 %). Morphological analysis confirmed the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis. This is the first record of E. multilocularis in foxes or other carnivorous mammals in Serbia.