The spread of Echinococcus multilocularis in the Balkans is facilitated by the golden jackal

Introduction Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis , is an emerging disease in the Balkans. The presence of this tapeworm has been detected in several wildlife species, including the golden jackal, a confirmed definitive host. The golden jackal is distributed throughout the Balkans, with a large resident population in Serbia. The aim of this study was to identify Echinococcus spp. circulating in golden jackals, identify regions with high occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis and gain insight into the geographical spread of this tapeworm. Methods The intestinal mucosa and feces of legally hunted golden jackals were examined for the presence of Echinococcus spp. adults and eggs. The mucosa was examined by sedimentation in saline, while taeniid eggs were isolated by zinc chloride flotation and collected after sequential mesh filtration. DNA was extracted from the adults/eggs and screened for the presence of DNA of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex and Echinococcus multilocularis using specific PCR methods. Results Echinococcus multilocularis was detected in seven (5.7%) golden jackals ( n = 122), Echinococcus canadensis G6-8, 10 was detected in two, while Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto G1/3 was detected in one. Two areas with high occurrence of jackals infected with Echinococcus multilocularis were identified, one in the south (city of Niš and surrounding area) and another in the west (area including Čačak and Mount Zlatibor) of the country. Discussion This study shows that Echinococcus multilocularis is the most frequent of the Echinococcus spp. tapeworms in golden jackals and widely distributed over Serbian territory. Of greatest concern to public health is the finding that 3/7 animals infected with Echinococcus multilocularis were detected in hunting grounds near cities (Niš and Čačak). The results of this study indicate that systematic surveillance and monitoring of golden jackals for the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis should be introduced in Serbia.