In late December 2020, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, in cooperation with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, diagnosed Echinococcus multilocularis in a road-killed red fox in Clarke County. E. multilocularis is a tapeworm of wild and domestic canids that is also capable of infecting humans. This red fox is the first wild animal in Virginia confirmed to be infected with this tapeworm and indicates that the tapeworm is present in wild canid populations in the state. E. multilocularis was detected for the first time in Virginia in a domestic dog from Clarke County in 2018. The dog was presumed to have become exposed to the tapeworm in Virginia because of a lack of travel history. The infected fox was found less than 10 miles from the dog’s residence.
This finding has important implications for the health and safety of individuals who directly handle wild coyotes and foxes, particularly hunters, trappers, and Commercial Nuisance Animal permittees. While rarely diagnosed in people, E. multilocularis can infect humans and may cause serious illness and even death. Domestic dogs, and occasionally cats, may be infected as well. Infection occurs through accidental ingestion of canid feces containing the eggs of the tapeworm. Disease in humans is caused by the development of parasitic cysts, predominantly in the liver, with signs mimicking those of cirrhosis or liver cancer, such as weight loss, abdominal pain, and liver failure. Occasionally cysts may occur in the lungs and cause symptoms such as a chronic cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Cysts are usually slow growing, and signs of illness may not be observed for years following initial exposure.
The Department strongly advises caution when handling wildlife carcasses of any species, including red foxes, gray foxes, and coyotes. In order to prevent accidental exposure, all foxes and coyotes should be treated as potentially infected with E. multilocularis. The following precautions are recommended:
Wear disposable, rubber, or plastic gloves when handling any live or dead wildlife.
Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water after working with wild canids or handling feces.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animal carcasses.
For more information about E. multilocularis, please refer to the following links:
CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/echinococcosis/gen_info/ae-faqs.htmlIowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/echinococcosis.pdfOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/docs/ParasiteFlyer.pdf