Occurrence of animal cystic echinococcosis in Italy: an updating

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important public health and economic problem in many areas of the world, e.g. in the Mediterranean Region. In Italy, the lack of official data and poor level of reporting, both in animals and humans, do not allow to have a appropriate picture on its occurrence and socio-economic impact. At the moment, the most reliable epidemiological information is based on research data. Aim. The aim of this paper is to give a brief updating of the occurrence of animal CE in Italy. Methods. The epidemiological situation of animal CE in Italy is presented, mainly reviewing recent surveys and studies carried out on MIUR National Projects, PHD research or other research plans. Results. Until now, in Italy, the following agents of CE have been identified: Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1, G2, G3), E. equinus (G4), E. ortleppi (G5), and pig strain (G7). CE has been reported in farmed animals, dogs, wildlife (mainly wolves and wild-boars), and in humans. E. multilocularis (alveolar echinococcosis) has been reported in foxes. It is not present in other animals (althought some wrong reports were notified in recent years) or in humans. Recent reported CE prevalences (ranges or mean) are the following: Northern Italy: sheep 0.1- 0.5 % (in some areas, adult sheep 25-45%); cattle 0.02-0.7% (1.4 % in a limited area in Emilia-Romagna region); horses 0.3 %; pigs