A case-control study of the risk factors for cystic echinococcosis among the children of Río Negro province, Argentina

Abstract

In 1984 the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Rio Negro province in central Argentina reached alarming levels, with almost 6% of children aged 7-13 years infected with the causative agent, Echinococcus granulosus. Although the control activities developed between 1980-2000 have now lowered the prevalence of infection in this age-group to 1.1%, transmission of E. granulosus has clearly not ceased. The aim of the present study was to identify possible flaws in the control programme and the risk factors associated with CE. The 24 cases and 66 controls used were identified during a survey of the 1,070 schoolchildren attending 12 schools in Ingeniero Jacobacci, Rio Negro province. In interviews based around a standardized questionnaire, the adult female with responsibility for each subject (usually the mother but sometimes a grandmother or guardian) was asked 70 questions about the child and his or her immediate family, their contact with dogs and relevant environmentmental factors, and their level of contact with the control programme. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). The main risk factors found to be significantly associated with CE were having a family member with the disease (OR = 3.11; CI = 0.92-10.47), spending the first years of life surrounded by a large number of dogs (OR = 2.11; CI = 1.2-3.5), and having a father who slaughtered sheep at his workplace (OR = 1.14; CI = 1.04-1.24). Obtaining drinking water from a tap (OR = 0.28; CI = 0.08-1.01) also remained in the final model, as a protective factor.

Factores domiciliarios asociados con la presencia de hidatidosis humana en tres comunidades rurales de Junín, Perú

“…Por otro lado, los factores de riesgo asociados con la enfermedad como son el contacto con perros, el sexo y la edad, que han sido descritos en otras publicaciones (3,8,(23)(24)(25) , no mostraron asociación positiva en nuestro estudio. En el caso del contacto con perros, el que no se encontrara asociación positiva se puede deber a que la asociación se da más de modo individual, lo cual ha sido descrito en estudios donde se evalúan los conocimientos actitudes y prácticas de manera individual en relación al contacto con el perro, determinando que la probabilidad de enfermedad varía con relación al grado de interacción entre el perro y el individuo, ya sea por la ocupación de las personas, los hábitos higiénico alimenticios, la práctica de matanza de ganado en el hogar, la inadecuada eliminación de vísceras contaminadas y el cuidado y alimentación de los perros con vísceras contaminadas (8,26) .…”

Autochthonous cystic echinococcosis in patients who grew up in Germany

“…Dog ownership, in particular the duration of dog ownership is the best established risk factor for human cystic echinococcosis [12]. Sometimes, humans may become infected without contact to dogs; indirect transmission occurs, when arthropods such as flies or cockroaches or birds transport ova of E. granulosus from dog excrements on raw food, e.g.…”

“…Sometimes, humans may become infected without contact to dogs; indirect transmission occurs, when arthropods such as flies or cockroaches or birds transport ova of E. granulosus from dog excrements on raw food, e.g. salad [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. In a rural environment, small children may also become infected when they accidentally ingest ova after crawling on the floor which has been contaminated by excrements of an infected dog.…”

“…Indirect transmission most likely accounts for those two of our patients who did not recall any dog contact and may account for some other case, although an occasional dog contact which has been forgotten cannot be ruled out completely. However, the risk of indirect transmission by such sporadic events appears to be much lower than a long-lasting contact to a dog that is harbouring adult worms and thus constantly excreting worm ova over a time period of up to 22 months [10,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Awareness of zoonoses in freshmen entering the veterinary school

“…In Argentina the most frequent zoonosis are brucellosis, leptospirosis, echinococcosis, tuberculosis, triquinelosis, toxoplasmosis, ascariasis, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), and anthrax (Barlasina et al, 2009;Larrieu et al, 2002, 2014OlveraYabur et al, 2010;Rivero et al, 2013;Signorini and Frizzo, 2009;Signorini and Tarabla, 2009;Signorini et al, 2013;Vanasco et al, 2008;Zbrun et al, 2013). Rabies and viral encephalitis are also important as potential zoonosis.…”