August 18, 2025, 9:03 am | Read time: 4 minutes
“When gathering berries at the edge of the forest, it’s often advised to leave the lower berries hanging.” And for good reason: Fox droppings and urine can end up near the ground. These excretions spread the dangerous fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis). An infection in humans can lead to liver damage or even death. Since foxes also roam through gardens, the question arises: Is there a risk of infection right outside your own front door?
How Likely is It to Get Infected With the Fox Tapeworm in the Garden?
The fox tapeworm is a parasite that primarily occurs in foxes. myHOMEBOOK inquired at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, about the likelihood of infection in one’s own garden: “There is a risk from fruits, vegetables, or herbs from your own garden,” explains Elke Reinking from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. However, the biologist adds that there are no quantitative data on this. This means there are no reliable studies on how often people get infected with the fox tapeworm in the garden. Similarly, there are no statistics on how often fox droppings in private gardens are actually infectious.
Besides the fox, there are other ways to get infected with the fox tapeworm in the garden. The expert explains: “Known risk factors include keeping dogs and cats and having a kitchen garden.” People mainly get infected with the fox tapeworm by consuming contaminated food. The parasite gets onto the berries through droppings or so-called smear infections. The eggs of the fox tapeworm can also be found in the fur of foxes, raccoon dogs, or, in rare cases, dogs and cats, and can be transmitted this way. According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the eggs of the fox tapeworm remain infectious for several months. “Favorable conditions are required, as the eggs are sensitive to drying out,” says Reinking.
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Harvesting and storing blackberries properly
Protective Measures in the Garden
The risk of getting infected with the fox tapeworm is very low for humans. Nevertheless, the danger should be taken seriously. Untreated infections can be fatal. To protect yourself from a fox tapeworm infection in the garden, it is advisable to wear gardening gloves. After gardening, you should wash your hands thoroughly. Harvested fruits, vegetables, and herbs should be washed thoroughly before consumption.
Even better is heat to eliminate the eggs: “To be sure, you should only consume berries, windfall, or vegetables that have been sufficiently heated,” says the expert. 65 degrees Celsius for at least 120 minutes or 80 degrees Celsius for 8 minutes. According to the expert, the eggs also do not tolerate cold. However, freezing requires appropriate equipment that can reach temperatures of at least minus 70 to 80 degrees Celsius. For pet owners, it is also important to regularly deworm dogs and cats!
What to Do if You Get Infected With the Fox Tapeworm?
If you suspect you have been infected with the fox tapeworm, you should see a doctor. Although rare, echinococcosis can develop. However, the symptoms develop slowly and insidiously. You will likely only notice an infection years later, often only five to fifteen years after infection. This is what makes the disease dangerous, as after fifteen years, organs like the liver are likely already severely affected.
Typical symptoms in the early phase include fatigue, a feeling of pressure in the right upper abdomen, loss of appetite, and unintended weight loss. In the late phase, typical symptoms include an enlarged liver, pressure pain in the right upper abdomen, jaundice—recognizable by yellow eyes, among other things—fever, inflammation, and liver dysfunction. The infestation can also spread to other organs besides the liver, including the lungs, brain, or spleen. Accordingly, you may also feel pain there.