First West Coast Find of Deadly Fox Tapeworm in Coyotes
UW researchers detected the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, in 37 of 100 coyotes near Puget Sound—the first West Coast wildlife finding. The parasite can cause echinococcosis, with cystic and alveolar forms that damage the liver and can be deadly. Human infections are rare and the overall public risk remains low; infection occurs via ingesting worm eggs from contaminated soil or food or handling infected animals. A European variant now prevalent in North America is spreading west from the Midwest over the past 15 years. Prevention includes good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with wild canids, and ensuring pets receive routine veterinary care; the CDC emphasizes avoiding exposure to wild animals.