Maculopathy and Dengue

for echinococcosis. Confirmed cases of infection in dogs further showed the potential threat of domestic dogs transmitting E. multilocularis to humans in this region, as well as the potential for dispersal to other islands of Japan if proper preventive measures are not implemented. A previous report of necropsy examinations of 9,849 dogs from 1966 to 1999 showed a prevalence of 1.0% (10). Although necropsy is considered the most reliable method to diagnose E. multilocularis in definitive hosts, it is not applicable for live animals such as domestic dogs and cats. Fecal egg examination is generally used; however, infection is difficult to confirm because the morphology of taeniid eggs is indistinguishable from those of E. multilocularis, and eggs are excreted intermittently even after the worms mature. Coproantigen detection had proven useful for primary screening and was documented to have 94.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity for echinococcosis in wild red foxes in Hokkaido (1). The combined egg examination, ELISA, and PCR methods we used showed an accurate and rapid diagnosis in domestic dogs, which is important for immediate reporting, treatment, and action to safeguard dog owners.