Echinococcus equinus – Erster Fall in Norddeutschland.

Echinococcus equinus causes cystic echinococcosis in equines. The cestode appears to be endemic in Spain, Italy, Great Britain and Ireland. The present case shows the emergence of the parasite to our previously unaffected latitude. A 17-year old Connemara horse, born and raised in Ireland, was brought to Germany at the age of 10 years. Here, it developed an orosinuidal fistula and chronic colitis and was euthanized with poor prognosis. Necropsy revealed multiple well-demarcated, thick-walled, grey-white hydatid cysts of 1 to 5cm in diameter in the liver and lung. PCR product sequencing revealed complete identity with E. equinus. The present case indicates the spreading of an infectious agent outside its original endemic region. In order to prevent further spreading of Echinococcus equinus special attention should be given to the import of dogs and horses from endemic regions as well as to dogs being fed with raw horseorgans or contaminated meat in terms of the Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods (BARF) –diet which has gained increasing popularity. These dogs may potentially become reservoirs for Echinococcus equinus, a risk which should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]