Endemic alveolar echinococcosis in southern Belgium?

peer reviewed ; Until now, Belgium has been considered as a low-risk country for alveolar echinococcosis. However it was recently demonstrated by necropsy series that, in some parts of southern Belgium (Wallonia), up to 51% of the red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) may be infected by E. multilocaris. The authors, working in a university hospital in southern Belgium, described in 2002 the first autoctuthonous Belgian case of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. More importantly, in 2004, they diagnosed three other patients with alveolar echinococcosis. One underwent surgical resection, but two others had bi... Mehr ...