2026-09-14 ペンシルベニア州立大学（Penn State）
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/diagnosing-parasites-pose-health-risks-dogs-humans
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771426000078
ペンシルベニア州の飼い犬および野生イヌ科動物におけるエキノコックス属の蔓延状況と分布：糞便サンプルに対するKeyScreen™ GI寄生虫PCR検査 Prevalence and distribution of Echinococcus species in domestic dogs and wild canids in Pennsylvania: KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR testing of fecal samples
Kayla B. Garrett, Justin Brown, Pablo D. Jimenez Castro, Michelle Evason, Maria Jarque, Emily Jenkins, Noelle Kuhn, Christian Leutenegger, Cecilia Lozoya, Samantha Loo, Lauren Maxwell, Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Andrew S. Peregrine, Christian Savard, Jeffrey Tereski, Taylor Volappi, Kyle Van Why, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland
One Health Available online: 6 January 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101323
Highlights
- New county reports for Echinococcus multilocularis and E. canadensis (G8) in Pennsylvania, USA.
- Utilized a fecal qPCR method to test wild and domestic canid feces for presence of Echinococcus species.
- Applied KeyScreen™ PCR panel to differentiate between Echinococcus and Taenia species infections in canids.
- Demonstrated the utility of a rapid fecal PCR for wildlife parasite surveillance.
Abstract
Echinococcus species are zoonotic cestodes found worldwide, posing a risk to humans and animals. Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) are both a concern in North America. Wild and domestic canids are definitive hosts, while rodents and ruminants are intermediate hosts for E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l., respectively. Humans can be alternative intermediate hosts for both Echinococcus species, and domestic dogs can serve as intermediate hosts for E. multilocularis. Recent Echinococcus detections in the eastern United States and Canada indicate a need for surveillance for these parasites. In total, we tested 27,293 fecal samples: pet dogs (n = 26,979), hunting dogs (n = 52), and wild canids (n = 262, including coyotes (Canis latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)) from Pennsylvania, USA using the KeyScreen™ GI Parasite PCR. This PCR can detect and differentiate E. multilocularis, E. granulosus s.l., and Taenia spp. Infection with Echinococcus multilocularis was detected in four individuals: two gray foxes from Erie and Clearfield counties and two coyotes from Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties. Additionally, one coyote was positive from Wyoming county for E. canadensis (G8), an E. granulosus s.l. species. No pet dogs or hunting dogs were positive for either Echinococcus species. Wild canids from multiple counties were positive for Taenia species, but no domestic pet dogs or hunting dogs were positive. These findings expand the known range of Echinococcus species in Pennsylvania wild canids and demonstrate that KeyScreen™ is a valuable and rapid tool for detecting Echinococcus spp. in canid fecal samples.
