Fecal floatation and KeyScreen polymerase chain reaction optimize Echinococcus multilocularis detection in canine feces for veterinary practice and zoonotic surveillance.

Combining mini-FLOTAC or centrifugal flotation with KeyScreen PCR optimizes Echinococcus multilocularis detection and species confirmation in canine feces.

This study evaluated four fecal diagnostic methods for detecting Echinococcus multilocularis eggs in canine feces: passive fecal float, centrifugal fecal float, mini-FLOTAC, and the KeyScreen GI PCR Parasite Panel (Antech Diagnostics). Domestic dog feces were spiked with eight egg concentrations (0–500 eggs/g), with ten replicates per concentration, assessing detection frequency and mean egg recovery. The centrifugal float had the lowest detection limit, identifying eggs at 10 eggs/g in 20% of replicates, though mean recovery remained low. The mini-FLOTAC demonstrated the highest mean egg recovery and overall quantitative accuracy (9.01%), making it a practical option for veterinary practices lacking centrifugation equipment. Passive float and KeyScreen PCR both detected eggs consistently at concentrations ≥60 eggs/g, with KeyScreen showing higher detection frequency than passive float at lower concentrations. Critically, KeyScreen is the only method capable of distinguishing Echinococcus species from morphologically similar Taenia eggs, providing species-level confirmation essential for accurate zoonotic risk assessment. Given that E. multilocularis causes alveolar echinococcosis in humans—a potentially fatal zoonosis—accurate species identification is especially important in regions where the parasite is emerging. The authors emphasize that combining centrifugal or mini-FLOTAC flotation with KeyScreen PCR optimizes detection sensitivity and specificity. Regular testing and treatment of all dogs is recommended as a One Health surveillance priority, particularly in North America where E. multilocularis and E. canadensis are of growing concern.

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