Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566393›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2026

Estimating the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in a Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) population on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Qingqiu Zuo, Xu Wang, Jiaxin Zheng, Gang Wang, Xiaodong Weng, Weibin Jiang, Nan Liu, Yingyuan Yang, Jue Chen, Zhuoma Bianba and 4 more

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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Qingqiu Zuo *National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
Xu Wang *National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
Jiaxin ZhengSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Gang WangSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaodong WengSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Weibin JiangSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Nan LiuSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Yingyuan YangSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Jue ChenSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Zhuoma BianbaNational Health Commission Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis Prevention and Control, Xizang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China.
Youzhong DingSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoming WangSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Xu WeiSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Zhenghuan WangSchool of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. zhwang@bio.ecnu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 31071944NHC Key Laboratory of Echinococcosis Prevention and Control 2024WZK1004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) is a crucial wild definitive host of Echinococcus cestodes on the Tibetan Plateau. Fecal detection of Echinococcus DNA (fecal prevalence) is commonly used to estimate Echinococcus spp. prevalence in canine populations (population prevalence). However, this approach may be biased without individual identification, when the same individuals are repeatedly sampled, potentially leading to the misestimation of exact population prevalence.

methodsFecal samples collected from Tibetan foxes in Shiqu County (2010-2012) were genotyped to identify individual foxes, followed by copro-PCR to determine the population prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in the genotyped foxes. A virtual resampling program was developed to assess sampling bias and determine the optimal interval between sampling line transects. The derived optimal interval was then applied in surveillance conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2019.

resultsIn total, 679 Tibetan fox feces were confirmed from 1219 field-collected samples (2010-2019). From 250 samples (2010-2012), 61 distinct fox individuals were identified. Virtual resampling analysis determined the optimal sampling interval to be 200-900 m, confirming fecal prevalence as an unbiased estimator of population prevalence. The implementation of a 500 m sampling interval in the surveillance of Echinococcus spp. (2010-2019) revealed an overall prevalence of 45.7% (95% CI 41.4-50.0%), with 32.3% (28.4-36.2%) for Echinococcus multilocularis and 23.5% (19.8-27.2%) for Echinococcus shiquicus. Mixed infections were detected annually, with an overall prevalence of 11.1% (8.4-13.8%). Significant temporal reductions were observed in the prevalence of E. multilocularis (Z = - 4.640, P < 0.001), mixed infections (Z = - 3.896, P < 0.001), and overall Echinococcus spp. (Z = - 2.155, P = 0.031). The prevalence trends of E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus were significantly associated, showing an inverse relationship (χ

conclusionsA 200-900 m interval between feces sampling line transects was established as the optimal distance for assessing the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in the Tibetan fox population. The persistent high prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in the Tibetan fox indicates an ongoing sylvatic transmission risk in Shiqu County. The opposing prevalence trends between E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus indicated a complex interaction within their shared host, warranting further study.

Indexed as

EchinococcosisEchinococcusFoxesAnimalsFecesGenotypePrevalenceTibetCopro-DNA genotypeEchinococcus spp.Fecal prevalencePopulation prevalenceSampling techniqueTibetan fox

Identifiers

PMID41566393
PMCPMC12822117

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