{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T13:36:58Z","timestamp":1785418618014,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778025600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100016047","name":"Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["10841"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["10841"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100016047","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["10841"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["10841"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02r531a15","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In Serbia, human echinococcosis cases are predominantly diagnosed as the cystic form, caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) complex tapeworms. Alveolar echinococcosis, a more severe disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, emerged recently. Domestic dogs have been implicated in the transmission of E. granulosus sensu stricto G1\/3 to humans. In an ongoing screening of definitive hosts for the presence of Echinococcus spp. to discover reservoirs of E. multilocularis, fecal samples of hunting (n = 29) and stray dogs (n = 66) were examined. Taeniid eggs were collected using flotation and mesh filtration. The presence of Cyclophyllidea, E. granulosus s. l. and E. multilocularis DNA was detected by specific PCR assays. In total, 60% of the fecal samples contained cyclophyllidean DNA, while Echinococcus spp. DNA was detected in 7.4% of the samples. E. canadensis G6\u20138,10 DNA was present in 4.2% and E. multilocularis in 3.2% of the samples. E. multilocularis DNA was detected only in stray dog feces, suggesting that strays are a reservoir and possibly an important link in the transmission chain. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first molecular identification of Echinococcus spp. in dogs in Serbia.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16091421","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T08:01:39Z","timestamp":1778140899000},"page":"1421","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Hunting and Stray Dogs as Reservoirs of Echinococcus Species"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7375-6752","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikola","family":"Beti\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8060-9139","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Milica","family":"Kuru\u010dki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8775-8057","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katarina","family":"Breka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3033-1658","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Penezi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3782-6602","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Neda","family":"Bogdanovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5552-9946","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ilija","family":"Panteli\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-2737-8358","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Vuleti\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tijana","family":"Kukuri\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6291-5527","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jelena","family":"Karanovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6171-909X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jovana","family":"Rai\u010devi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2923-4137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandar","family":"Baj\u010di\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7976-3104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivana","family":"Klun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1424-0123","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Uzelac","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Carnevale, J. (2024). Tapeworms in Dogs and Cats. MSD Manual Professional Version, Merck & Co., Inc.. Available online: https:\/\/www.msdvetmanual.com\/digestive-system\/gastrointestinal-parasites-of-small-animals\/tapeworms-in-dogs-and-cats."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2012.03.024","article-title":"Echinococcus multilocularis in dogs from two French endemic areas: No evidence of infection but hazardous deworming practices","volume":"188","author":"Umhang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-018-3149-1","article-title":"Survey of European pet owners quantifying endoparasitic infection risk and implications for deworming recommendations","volume":"11","author":"McNamara","year":"2018","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4229","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-021-07073-3","article-title":"Predators in northern Germany are reservoirs for parasites of One Health concern","volume":"120","author":"Waindok","year":"2021","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"585","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-022-07760-9","article-title":"Gastrointestinal parasites in young dogs and risk factors associated with infection","volume":"122","author":"Murnik","year":"2023","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"ESCCAP (2026, March 10). Worm Control in Dogs and Cats. Guideline 01 Seventh Edition\u2014June 2025. Available online: https:\/\/www.esccap.org\/uploads\/docs\/biu0jhej_0778_ESCCAP_GL1__English_2025_v21_1p.pdf."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e95","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(22)00638-7","article-title":"Unveiling the incidences and trends of the neglected zoonosis cystic echinococcosis in Europe: A systematic review from the MEmE project","volume":"3","author":"Casulli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.17.1.107-135.2004","article-title":"Biological, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of echinococcosis, a zoonosis of increasing concern","volume":"17","author":"Eckert","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmi.2025.01.034","article-title":"Human alveolar echinococcosis-global, regional, and national annual incidence and prevalence rates","volume":"31","author":"Rostami","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-024-08262-6","article-title":"Human cystic echinococcosis: First molecular identification of Echinococcus canadensis G7 in Brazil","volume":"123","author":"Pereira","year":"2024","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Institute of Public Health of Serbia (2026, February 25). Health Statistical Yearbook of Republic of Serbia\u20142014\u20132023. Available online: https:\/\/www.batut.org.rs\/index.php?content=279."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.2298\/SARH230112060L","article-title":"The first human case of multilocular echinococcosis recognized in Serbia","volume":"151","author":"Ivanov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Srp. Arh. Celok. Lek."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.9738\/INTSURG-D-24-00008.1","article-title":"Alveolar Echinococcosis of the Liver with Initially Suspected Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Case Report\u2014The Significance of Preoperative Serological Diagnostics","volume":"108","author":"Torbica","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. Surg."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Debeljak, Z.R. (2016). Parasitological and Molecular Examination of Genotypes and Haplotypes of Metacestoda Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato and Epizootiological Characteristics of Hydatidosis in Different Species of Animals [Parazitolo\u0161ka i molekularna ispitivanja genotipova i haplotipova metacestoda Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato i epizootiolo\u0161ke karakteristike hidatidoze kod razli\u010ditih vrsta \u017eivotinja]. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine]."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"561","article-title":"Significance of the red fox as a natural reservoir of intestinal zoonoses in Vojvodina, Serbia","volume":"67","author":"Simin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Hung."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1556\/004.2021.00030","article-title":"Intestinal helminth infections in the golden jackal (Canis aureus L.) from Vojvodina: Hotspot area of multilocular echinococcosis in Serbia","volume":"69","author":"Simin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Hung."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Uzelac, A., Breka, K., Penezi\u0107, A., Panteli\u0107, I., Kuru\u010dki, M., Bogdanovi\u0107, N., Kukuri\u0107, T., Beti\u0107, N., Karanovi\u0107, J., and Klun, I. (2026). The spread of Echinococcus multilocularis in the Balkans is facilitated by the golden jackal. Front. Vet. Sci., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1812243"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022149X00015443","article-title":"An improved test system for PCR-based specific detection of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs","volume":"70","author":"Mathis","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Helminthol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijppaw.2023.04.009","article-title":"High species diversity of Echinococcus spp. in wild mammals of Namibia","volume":"21","author":"Aschenborn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol. Parasites Wildl."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Martini, M., Dumendiak, S., Gagliardo, A., Ragazzini, F., La Rosa, L., Giunchi, D., Thielen, F., Romig, T., Massolo, A., and Wassermann, M. (2022). Echinococcus multilocularis and Other Taeniid Metacestodes of Muskrats in Luxembourg: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Parasite Reproduction, and Genetic Diversity. Pathogens, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens11121414"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maksimov, P., Bergmann, H., Wassermann, M., Romig, T., Gottstein, B., Casulli, A., and Conraths, F.J. (2020). Species Detection within the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato Complex by Novel Probe-Based Real-Time PCRs. Pathogens, 9.","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-57339\/v1"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-003-1043-y","article-title":"Polymerase chain reaction for detection of patent infections of Echinococcus granulosus (\u201csheep strain\u201d) in naturally infected dogs","volume":"92","author":"Shaikenov","year":"2004","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Sergeant, E.S.G. (2026, February 05). Epitools Epidemiological Calculators. Ausvet. Available online: http:\/\/epitools.ausvet.com.au."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.2478\/s11687-014-0231-x","article-title":"Effectiveness of coproscopic concentration techniques","volume":"51","author":"Taglioretti","year":"2014","journal-title":"Helminthologia"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2017029","article-title":"A flotation\/sieving method to detect Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxocara spp. eggs in soil by real-time PCR","volume":"24","author":"Umhang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"100829","article-title":"The potential role of roaming dogs in establishing a geographically novel life cycle of taeniids (Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp.) in a non-endemic area","volume":"38","author":"Mutwiri","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Rep."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"668","DOI":"10.1017\/S0031182025100474","article-title":"Molecular survey of taeniid cestodes with special emphasis on Echinococcus species in free-roaming dogs and wild carnivores in Armenia","volume":"152","author":"Gevorgyan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Parasitology"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"54","article-title":"Gastrointestinal parasites in shelter dogs from Belgrade, Serbia","volume":"7","author":"Sommer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Rep."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101653","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cimid.2021.101653","article-title":"Prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs from public shelters in Serbia","volume":"76","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comp. Immunol. Microbiol. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1080\/09712119.2016.1141779","article-title":"Prevalence of zoonotic intestinal helminths in pet dogs and cats in the Belgrade area","volume":"45","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Res."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jovanovi\u0107, N.M., Biseni\u0107, O., Nenadovi\u0107, K., Bogunovi\u0107, D., Rajkovi\u0107, M., Maleti\u0107, M., Mirilovi\u0107, M., and Ili\u0107, T. (2024). Gastrointestinal Parasites in Owned Dogs in Serbia: Prevalence and Risk Factors. Animals, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14101463"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.3855\/jidc.12694","article-title":"Canine intestinal parasites as a potential source of soil contamination in the public areas of Kru\u0161evac, Serbia","volume":"15","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dev. Ctries."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"8879","article-title":"Endoparasitic fauna of dogs in Pozarevac","volume":"69","author":"Samokovlija","year":"2012","journal-title":"Bull. Univ. Agric. Sci. Vet."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"223","article-title":"Parazitske infekcije digestivnog trakta pasa na podru\u010dju Brani\u010devskog okruga","volume":"65","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vet. Glas."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1556\/avet.56.2008.3.7","article-title":"High prevalence of intestinal zoonotic parasites in dogs from Belgrade, Serbia\u2014Short communication","volume":"56","author":"Klun","year":"2008","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Hung."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-008-1222-y","article-title":"Echinococcus multilocularis\u2014Adaptation of a worm egg isolation procedure coupled with a multiplex PCR assay to carry out large-scale screening of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Norway","volume":"104","author":"Davidson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2015.07.027","article-title":"Echinococcus multilocularis: Epidemiology, surveillance and state-of-the-art diagnostics from a veterinary public health perspective","volume":"213","author":"Conraths","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2016.04.007","article-title":"First insights into the genetic diversity of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) in Serbia","volume":"223","author":"Debeljak","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.18485\/meattech.2025.66.3.12","article-title":"Detection of Echinococcus spp. in condemned livers","volume":"66","author":"Breka","year":"2025","journal-title":"Meat Technol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3608","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00938-09","article-title":"The EmsB tandemly repeated multilocus microsatellite: A new tool to investigate genetic diversity of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato","volume":"47","author":"Maillard","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"871","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2010.09-0639","article-title":"Echinococcus canadensis G7 (pig strain): An underestimated cause of cystic echinococcosis in Austria","volume":"82","author":"Schneider","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-022-05197-8","article-title":"Species and genotypes belonging to Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex causing human cystic echinococcosis in Europe (2000\u20132021): A systematic review","volume":"15","author":"Casulli","year":"2022","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocon.2016.06.016","article-title":"Predation of wildlife by free-ranging domestic dogs on Polish hunting grounds and potential competition with the grey wolf","volume":"201","author":"Wierzbowska","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biol. Conserv."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/9\/1421\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T11:28:45Z","timestamp":1778498925000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/9\/1421"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16091421"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16091421","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]]}}}