DNA sequencing of 1.3 kb of rDNA containing both internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, ITS2) and adjoining rRNA coding regions in each of 11 Echinococcus multilocularis isolates from Germany, Japan, and Alaska resulted in identical nucleotide sequences except for a single polymorphic locus 54 bp upstream of the 3' end of the 18S coding region, separating Eurasian isolates from an Alaskan isolate....

BACKGROUND Echinococcus multilocularis is the source of alveolar echinococcosis, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. This investigation assessed the presence of E. multilocularis infection in definitive hosts in the Chenaran region of Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Fecal samples from 77 domestic and stray dogs and 14 wild carnivores were examined...

Alveolar and cystic hydatidosis are caused by infection with the larval stages of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus, respectively. A host-protective antigen has been identified in E. granulosus. Here we identify the presence of a closely related protein in E. multilocularis, characterize and express a cDNA encoding the antigen (designated EM95), determine the structure of ...

A mathematical model for the transmission cycle of Echinococcus multilocularis would be useful for estimating its prevalence, and the model simulation can be instrumental in designing various control strategies. This review focuses on the epidemiological factors in the E. multilocularis transmission cycle and the recent advances of mathematical models for E. multilocularis transmission.

BACKGROUND Infections of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s), E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus are commonly found co-endemic on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China, and an efficient tool is needed to facilitate the detection of infected hosts and for species identification. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A single-tube multiplex PCR assay was established to differentiate the Echinococcu...

It was suggested that the unlimited proliferative capacity of the Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode may be related to overproduction of the 14-3-3 protein. As is known, the proliferative capacities of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis metacestodes are very different. By comparing the expression levels of the 14-3-3 gene between in vitro-obtained E. granulosus and E. multilocularis metac...

BACKGROUND Despite Echinococcus granulosus, there are merely two old reports of E. multilocularis infection among Iranian canids of Moghan Plain, the only area known endemic for the species. We detected specific DNA markers in fecal samples by PCR (Copro-PCR) for differential diagnosis of Echinococcus species in living canids. METHODS Totally 144 fecal samples from domestic dogs, red foxes an...

In December 2011, we reported an autochthonous case of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in a 42-year-old woman in Korea. The diagnosis was based on histopathological findings of the surgically resected liver cyst. In the present study, we evaluated the serological and molecular characteristics of this Korean E. multilocularis case. The patient's serum strongly reacted with affinity-purifie...

In vitro treatment of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus larval stages with the antimalarials dihydroartemisinin and artesunate (10 to 40 microM) exhibited promising results, while 6 weeks of in vivo treatment of mice infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes (200 mg/kg of body weight/day) had no effect. However, combination treatments of both drugs with albendazole led ...