Echinococcus sp.

Echinococcus sp. surveillance in definitive hosts

Te copro-antigen ELISA has emerged as the preferred screening method because of its superior balance between sensitivity and specificity, alongside its heightened suitability when contrasted with alternative approaches such as necropsy. Necropsy, a time-intensive process with stringent laboratory requirements, applies only to deceased animals. On the other hand, arecoline testing not only entails hazards but also shows reduced sensitivity. Consequently, the copro-antigen ELISA is an optimal solution in this domain [ 42, 148]. DNA detection in feces and environmental samples (e.g. soil, water, sewage and vegetables) has become increasingly important [ 123, 152 – 155]. LAMP-based assays and PCR are valuable tools for screening and assessing infection status under field conditions [ 156 – 158].