Echinococcus multilocularis: secondary poisoning of fox population during a vole outbreak reduces environmental contamination in a high endemicity area.

International audienceThis paper describes the role of fox population level on Echinococcus multilocularis infection in foxes in a highly endemic area in eastern France. Fox population level was monitored by spotlight survey at Le Souillot from 1989 to 2000, and from 1992 to 2000 at Chemin, a control site located in a low endemic area. The infection level of the fox population was estimated at Le Souillot from winter 1995 to winter 1999 using a coproantigen ELISA performed on faeces collected in the field. Population biomass of intermediate hosts (Microtus arvalis and Arvicola terrestris) was monitored using index methods from 1995 to 1999. At Le Souillot, a significant decline in the fox population level was recorded after spring 1997 (P