Caractéristiques écologiques et épidémiologiques de l'Echinococcus multilocularis au cours d'un cycle complet des populations d'un hôte intermédiaire (Microtus arvalis)

This study, carried out in a medium altitude mountain ecosystem (Doubs, France), was devoted to the analysis of spatial and temporal variations of the infestation rate of Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart in a microtine secondary host (Microtus arvalis Pallas) during a complete population cycle of the rodent. This analysis, combined with a structural study of the landscape, showed that contaminated rodents were located only in or near ploughed fields. The age structure of the rodent population showed that infestation occurred only during winter (from October to April in the studied area). These results suggest new ways of research for elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the perenniality of the parasite.