Echinococcus multilocularis in germany: increased awareness or spreading of a parasite?

Abstract

The 'small fox tapeworm' Echinococcus multilocularis has recently become a matter of intense interest in Germany. A long-term increase of its prevalence in foxes has been noted in the well-known endemic areas in Southern Germany, and reports on the occurrence of the parasite in other parts of the country suggest that the parasite is actually much more widespread than previously thought. As nearly all of the relevant studies are published in the German language in a veterinary journal and in the hunting press, accessibility to the information is limited. Richard Lucius and Brigit Bilger here describe the situation, and discuss the possible reasons and consequences.