Support for targeted sampling of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) feces in Sweden: a method to improve the probability of finding Echinococcus multilocularis

Table 1 Description of collection sites containing feces positive for Echinococcus multilocularis, Sweden, 2013–2015

Region (n)	Collection site	Habitat^a	Total feces	Pos. feces^b	95% CI (%)	Rodents analyzed^c	Pos. rodents^b	95% CI (%)
K (18)
	Site 1	Field	62	3	4.8 (1.0–13.5)	61	0	0 (0–5.9)
U (21)
	Site 1	Field	92	15	16.3 (9.4–25.5)	43	0	0 (0–8.2)
	Site 2	Field	19	1	5.3 (0.1–26.0)	4	0	0 (0–60.2)
	Site 3	Field	63	2	3.2 (0.4–11.0)	52	0	0 (0–6.8)
G/N (7)
	Site 1	Field	20	5	25.0 (8.7–49.1)	49	0	0 (0–7.3)
	Site 2	Field	25	13	52.0 (31.3–72.2)	79	6^d	7.6 (2.8–15.8)
V/V (11)
	Site 1	Field	37	1	2.7 (0.1–14.2)	2	0	0 (0–84.2)
	Site 2	Field	20	1	5.0 (0.1–24.9)	0^e	0	0 (0–100)

Abbreviations: n total collection sites, Pos. number of positives, 95% CI percent positive and 95% binomial exact confidence interval, K Katrineholm, G/N Gnesta/Nyköping, U Uddevalla, V/V Vetlanda/Växjö
^aThe habitat (forest or field) that covered the majority of the collection site
^bNumber of feces or rodents positive for Echinococcus multilocularis
^cNumber of rodents caught within the collection site and analyzed for Echinococcus multilocularis. The majority of rodents analyzed from these sites were either water voles (Arvicola amphibius) or field voles (Microtus agrestis) but could include mice (Apodemus spp.) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Based on a previous study [5]
^dFive water voles (A. amphibius), one field vole (M. agrestis)
^eAlthough traps were set out, no rodents were caught

ISSN: 1756-3305