[Prevalence of infections in wild carnivores based on copro - DNA tests in Serthar County of Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of infections in wild carnivores in Serthar County, Sichuan Province, so as to provide insights into echinococcosis control in local areas.

METHODS

Stool samples were collected from wild carnivores in Serthar County, Sichuan Province in May 2021, and the host sources of stool samples and infections were identified using PCR assays. The prevalence of , and infections was estimated in different hosts.

RESULTS

A total of 583 stool samples were collected from wild carnivores, including 147 stool samples from fox, 154 from wolf, 227 from wild dogs and 11 from lynx. The overall prevalence of , and infections was 5.68%, 0.19% and 14.20% in canine stool samples, and no infection was detected in fox stool samples, while the prevalence of and infections was 0.68% and 47.62% in fox stool samples (χ = 88.41, < 0.001). No or infection was detected in wolf stool samples, and the prevalence of infection was 10.39% in wolf stool samples. The prevalence of , and infections was 5.73%, 0.44% and 2.20% in canine stool samples (χ = 12.13, < 0.01). In addition, the prevalence of infections was significantly higher in wolf stool samples than in canine and fox stool samples (χ = 13.23, < 0.01), and the prevalence of infections was significantly higher in fox stool samples than in canine and wolf stool samples (χ = 187.01, < 0.001). No infection was identified in 11 lynx stool samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of infections is high in wild canines in Serthar County, Sichuan Province. Wolf, wild dog and fox all participate in the wild life cycle of in Serthar County, and wolf and wild dogs may play a more important role.