Hydatid Disease ( Echinococcosis ) in Alaska and the Importance of Rodent Intermediate Hosts

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Abstract
Skin tests with nonspecific Echinococcus antigen of natives of St. Lawrence Island (Alaska), indicate a high incidence of human reactors. Dogs in several Arctic Eskimo villages have been found infected, and the parasite has been recorded from red and Arctic foxes and from wolves in n. Alaska. Clinical observations of liver abscess patients and persons possessing nodular livers also indicate human infection. The authors examined various native mammals in relation to transmission. In the past reindeer may have been involved, along with dogs and infected water supply, but at present moose and caribou constitute the principal reservoir of the parasite on the mainland, and the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus inuitus) is the only important intermediate host on St. Lawrence I. Human infection probably arises from the natives'' habit of eating a certain indigenous green plant, as yet unidentified, in the field, unwashed and raw. It is assumed that there is considerable contamination of such vegetation by feces of Arctic foxes, which are very abundant. Prohibition of interstate shipment of dogs from Arctic America is advocated.

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