Assessment of echinococcosis control in Tibet Autonomous Region, China

Abstract

Background In China the highest prevalence of echinococcosis is in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The government has issued documents and implemented comprehensive prevention and control measures focusing on controlling the source of infection of echinococcosis. It was very important to understand the implementation and effect of infectious source control measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of measures to control infectious source (domestic and stray dogs) in TAR and to assess their effectiveness. Methods We collected data on domestic dog registration and deworming and stray dog sheltering in 74 counties/districts in the TAR from 2017 to 2019. Fecal samples from domestic dogs were collected from randomly selected towns to determine Echinococcus infection in dogs using coproantigen ELISA. We analyzed the data to compare the canine rate of infection between 2016 and 2019. The data analysis was performed by SPSS statistical to compare dog infection rate in 2016 and 2019 by chi-square test, and ArcGIS was used for mapping. Results From 2017 to 2019, 84 stray dog shelters were built in TAR, and accumulatively 446,660 stray or infected dogs were arrested, sheltered, or disposed of. The number of domestic dogs went downward, with an increased registration management rate of 78.4% (2017), 88.8% (2018), and 99.0% (2019). Dogs were dewormed 5 times in 2017, 12 times in 2018, and 12 times in 2019. The dog infection rate was 1.7% (252/14,584) in 2019, significantly lower than 7.3% (552/7564) from the survey of echinococcosis prevalence in Tibet in 2016 (P < 0.05). Conclusion Between 2017 and 2019, the number of stray dogs and infection rate of Echinococcus spp. in domestic dogs decreased significantly, indicating that dogs were effectively controlled as a source of infection in TAR and reflecting a significant decrease in the risk of echinococcosis transmission. Graphical Abstract

Societal drivers of human echinococcosis in China

“…Dog management and control are critical measures in preventing and controlling echinococcosis as the zoonotic risk of CE and AE increases with the number of dogs and time dogs are maintained [ 21 ]. Tibet Autonomous Region has implemented comprehensive prevention and control measures focusing on controlling the infectious source of echinococcosis and achieved good results [ 37 ]. The Tibetan semi-nomadic way of life is unique and should be maintained.…”

Advances in the study of molecular identification technology of Echinococcus species

“…For a long time, many countries have actively taken comprehensive prevention, and control strategies and measures to control the impact of echinococcosis on human health and the development of animal husbandry. In China, a national program for echinococcosis control was launched in 2005, a series of policies such as health education, sanitation improving, ultrasound screening of the human population, surgical interventions and drug therapy, including registration, sheltering and deworming of domestic and stray dogs (Yu et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2022). Through these measures, human echinococcosis prevalence rate decreases from 1.08% in 2004 to 0.24% in 2012, dog echinococcosis prevalence rate decreases from 7.3% in 2016 to 1.7% in 2019 (Yu et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2022).…”

“…In China, a national program for echinococcosis control was launched in 2005, a series of policies such as health education, sanitation improving, ultrasound screening of the human population, surgical interventions and drug therapy, including registration, sheltering and deworming of domestic and stray dogs (Yu et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2022). Through these measures, human echinococcosis prevalence rate decreases from 1.08% in 2004 to 0.24% in 2012, dog echinococcosis prevalence rate decreases from 7.3% in 2016 to 1.7% in 2019 (Yu et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2022). Japan uses praziquantel to deworm foxes in small public places, reducing the egg-positive to close to zero to prevent human infection with E. multilocularis tapeworms in the region (Uraguchi et al, 2022).…”

China’s prevention and control experience of echinococcosis: A 19-year retrospective

“…Canids, especially stray dogs, have been identified as the main definitive host of both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis, with the highest risk of transmitting CE and AE to humans in China due to their popularity, ability to roam freely in pastoral areas, habit of preying on slaughtered livestock, and close relationship with human activities (Wang et al 2022). The prevalence of CE in dogs varies from 0.45 to 52.78%, which is the highest among the animals surveyed (van Kesteren et al 2015;Fu et al 2021).…”