New meta-analysis reveals uneven spread of Echinococcus multilocularis in Europe with emerging hotspots and host records

A comprehensive review uncovers complex patterns of infection pressure across Europe, highlighting new hotspots, declining areas, and novel host species, prompting calls for standardised surveillance.

A new meta-analysis has produced the clearest map yet of Echinococcus multilocularis across Europe, and the picture is uneven rather than uniformly worsening. Published in Parasites & Vectors, the review combines surveillance data from 2015 to 2025 and finds rising infection pressure in several long-established hotspots, but also notable declines in others.

According to the study, pooled true prevalence in red foxes increased in areas including eastern Austria, Denmark, south-east central and south-east France, south-west Germany, south-west Hungary, north-east Italy, parts of Poland, Slovenia, east Middle Sweden and Switzerland. At the same time, prevalence fell in Latvia, Svalbard, north-east Germany, north-east and east-central France, north-east Poland and northern Switzerland.

The parasite was also identified for the first time in red foxes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, central Italy and Serbia. The authors, led by researchers from the University of Pisa and Italy’s national health institute, also reported new host records in domestic dogs and cats, as well as in golden jackals, grey wolves and, for the first time, the European wildcat, Eurasian lynx and Eurasian badger.

Earlier work in Scientific Reports had already pointed to southward spread in Italy, reinforcing concerns that the parasite’s range is shifting. The new analysis argues for more standardised surveillance, especially in border regions and newly affected areas, to better assess risk for human alveolar echinococcosis.

Reference: Cafiero, S.A., Colla, L., Casulli, A. et al. The European distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis updating the state of the art. Parasites Vectors (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-026-07635-3