01448nas a2200181   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260007000043653003200113653001700145653001200162100001500174700001500189245012800204490000800332520091200340022001401252       2020                            d  c03/2020bSchlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGaHannover10aEchinococcus multilocularis10aepidemiology10aGermany1 aF Conraths1 aP Maksimov00aEpidemiology of Echinococcus multi- locularis infections: A review of the present knowledge and of the situation in Germany0 v1333 aHuman alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and infections of foxes, raccoon dogs and dogs as the most important definitive hosts of Echinococcus (E.) multilocularis in Central Europe remain topics of general interest. Nonetheless, the incidence in humans in Germany is low (appr. 30 reported new cases per year, maximum 56 cases in 2018). Usually, the infection does not cause any clinical signs in definitive host, whereas it is often lethal in intermediate hosts, particularly in primates. Infections with E. multilocularis occur in all parts of Germany, in particular in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes); a total of 5602 cases were officially reported in Germany between 2004 and 2019. The epidemiological situation in the definitive hosts can be characterised as endemic and stable. We here review the present knowledge on the life cycle and biology of E. multilocularis and the epidemiological situation in Germany.  a0005-9366