Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that causes economic losses and public health problems throughout the globe. Present study was undertaken to estimate the seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis in humans of South Kashmir and to determine the risk factors associated with this disease. The present study was carried out from April 2017 to March 2018, during which 458 blood samples (from 222 males and 236 females) were collected from selected subjects from 12 villages of four districts along with demographic characteristics. Samples were analyzed by an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) (commercially prepared kit) for detection of immunoglobulin IgG against cystic echinococcosis. Out of 458 samples, 20(4.36%) samples were found positive. Results implied that the seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis in South Kashmir had significant relationship with age, gender and occupation ( P < .05). Seroprevalence for cystic echinococcosis was significantly higher among males, children, and illiterate persons.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a dreadful zoonotic neglected disease that affects public health globally. The infection is highly endemic in northern India (Kashmir valley). The present survey based study was done to know the seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis infection among residents of north and central Kashmir valley and to identify risk variables linked to this infection. In addition to collecting 462 serum samples (244 males and 218 females), a questionnaire was also filled out for each participant utilizing systematic random sampling from June to November 2019 in 16 villages and 6 districts. Using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, the samples were tested for immunoglobulin G. Of the 462 serum samples obtained, 33 (7.14 percent) were found to be positive. Results showed that age group, gender, contact with dogs, occupation, and literacy rate were significantly related with the rate of seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis infection in Central and North Kashmir. Statistics showed that the observations were significant (P< 0.05). Children, men, and those who were uneducated had considerably greater rates of seropositivity for this infection.

Echinococcus granulosus is known to cause echinococcosis in dogs and hydatid disease or cystic echinococcosis in ruminant animals and accidentally in humans. Dogs have a crucial role in the transmission of zoonotic parasites in the Kashmir valley, as they frequently come into touch with humans. Cysts developed as a result of this condition are diagnosed using a variety of procedures, including computed tomography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The adoption of contemporary immunodiagnostic techniques, on the other hand, has improved the diagnosis of intestinal echinococcosis on a larger scale, allowing epidemiological studies to be conducted on a larger number of people. In the present study, the prevalence of echinococcosis infection in dogs was determined by examining faecal samples collected from different districts of the Kashmir Valley. An immunodiagnostic test, sandwich ELISA, was used for coproantigen detection of Echinococcus granulosus infection in dogs. A total of 476 faecal samples were tested, out of which, 48 samples were found to be positive in sandwich ELISA, which were mostly collected from different districts of the Kashmir valley and the collection sites included streets, playgrounds, open fields, parks, etc. of the Kashmir valley.