Echinococcus multilocularis in Ontario

Since 2012, six cases of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) have been diagnosed in domestic dogs residing in Ontario; five resided at the western end of Lake Ontario. This is a concern since five of the six dogs had not left the province, suggesting significant environmental contamination in the area(s) that each dog resided. As such, it is noteworthy that since 2015, cases of AE have been diagnosed in three lemurs and one chipmunk in the same geographical area (Turner et al. 2016; French et al 2018). As a result of these data and others, E. multilocularis was made reportable in all animal species in Ontario in January 2018 (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 557). In July 2018, E. multilocularis infection in people in Ontario was designated a disease of public health significance (Ontario Regulation 135/18).

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The text of the amended O. Reg. 557 and 135 are available on the e-Laws website at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900557?search=557. 

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References:

Ontario Regulation 135/18 (Designation of Diseases) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.  (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/180135)

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Turner PV, Compo NR, Davidson S, McDowell R, Cai H, Gottstein B, Peregrine AS. Diagnoses of alveolar echinococcosis in Lemurs at an exotic animal sanctuary: implications for public health. 66th Annual Meeting of the The James Steele Conference on Diseases in Nature Transmissible to Man (DIN), 25th-27th May 2016, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.

 

R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 557 (Communicable Diseases - General) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.  (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900557)