Winter is coming … How the hoarding behaviour of rodents fosters the persistence of Echinococcus multilocularis

This study aimed to determine whether the interspecific copro-foraging behaviour of potential intermediate host rodents can prevent the summer egg loss of the Arctic-originated cestode parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis . Red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) scats were used as bait under camera traps to assess rodents’ approach or avoidance activity. Of the 6 detected rodent taxa, common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) and European wood mice (the morphologically similar species, wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus and yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis ) approached and contacted the baits most frequently, primarily during autumn and winter. A higher seed content in the scat seemed to attract the common voles. Contrary to our hypothesis, autumn hoarding activity appears to foster the transmission of E. multilocularis , while the weakest link in its life cycle, the summer drought, remains less protected.