A dangerous tapeworm that has been spreading across North America has now been detected in the Pacific Northwest, according to new research. Scientists found the parasite, known as Echinococcus multilocularis, in local coyotes, marking the first time it has been identified in a wild host along the contiguous U.S. West Coast.
The parasite commonly infects coyotes, foxes, and other canids. While these animals often show no signs of illness, the tapeworm can cause severe disease in domestic dogs and humans if transmission occurs.
For decades, E. multilocularis has been recognized as a significant public health concern across parts of Europe and Asia. In North America, however, it was once considered exceptionally rare. That changed roughly 15 years ago when infections began appearing in dogs and people in Canada and the Midwest, signaling that the parasite was expanding its range.
Tapeworm Found in Pacific Northwest Coyotes
Researchers from the University of Washington surveyed 100 coyotes in the Puget Sound region and discovered that 37 carried the parasite. Their findings were published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
