Presence of red foxes and contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis on soft fruit farms in Limburg, the Netherlands

Echinococcus multilocularis (fox tapeworm), with the red fox as the main definitive host, is a major foodborne parasite in Europe and is emerging in the Netherlands. While wild berry consumption is often communicated as a risk factor for foodborne E. multilocularis infection, contamination of commercially grown soft fruits remains poorly studied. This study assessed fox presence and E. multilocularis contamination on commercial soft fruit farms in Limburg, an endemic area in the Netherlands. During the 2024 harvest season (June–August), 220 soft fruit and 220 soil samples were collected on 22 plots across 14 farms. Fox presence was confirmed on 50% of farms using camera traps and molecular analysis of fecal samples, with footage showing foxes actively foraging on fruits. Using washing, sedimentation, DNA extraction, and a specific qPCR targeting a short fragment of the 12S mitochondrial gene, E. multilocularis DNA was detected in 10/220 (4.5%; 95% CI: 2.5–8.2%) soft fruit samples, all at low concentrations. Univariable analysis indicated longer harvest duration, presence of elevated racks, rain covers, and removal of fallen fruit to be associated with contamination (all p < 0.05). Moreover, contamination seemed to occur more often on strawberries than other soft fruits ( p = 0.05). As only E. multilocularis DNA was detected, no conclusions can be drawn regarding the viability or infectivity of the parasite material. Furthermore, the interpretation of potential predictors of contamination remains unclear. Nevertheless, the presence of foxes on soft fruit farms indicates a potential source of contamination and highlights the importance of further research on strategies to minimize the contamination risk of outdoor grown fruits.