Community surveys and risk factor analysis of human alveolar and cystic echinococcosis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China

Abstract

Objective To determine the true community prevalence of human cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis (hydatid disease) in a highly endemic region in Ningxia Hui, China, by detecting asymptomatic cases. Methods Using hospital records and "AE-risk" landscape patterns we selected study communities predicted to be at risk of human echinococcosis in Guyuan, Longde and Xiji counties. We conducted community surveys of 4773 individuals from 26 villages in 2002 and 2003 using questionnaire analysis, ultrasound examination and serology. Findings Ultrasound and serology showed a range of prevalences for AE (0-8.1%; mean 2%) and CE (0-7.4%; mean 1.6%), with the highest prevalence in Xiji (2% for CE, 2.5% for AE). There were significant differences in the prevalence of CE, AE and total echinococcosis between the three counties and villages (with multiple degrees of freedom). While hospital records showed 96% of echinococcosis cases attributable to CE, our survey showed a higher prevalence of human AE (56%) compared to CE (44%). Questionnaire analysis revealed that key risk factors for infection were age and dog ownership for both CE and AE, and Hui ethnicity and being female for AE. Drinking well-water decreased the risk for both AE and CE. Conclusions Echinococcosis continues to be a severe public health problem in this part of China because of unhygienic practices/ habits and poor knowledge among the communities regarding this disease.

Canine echinococcosis in Kyrgyzstan: Using prevalence data adjusted for measurement error to develop transmission dynamics models

“…However, the abundance and intensity of infection with E. multilocularis was comparable with that found in China. Close contact with dogs is an obvious risk factor for human CE and has been reported as a risk factor for human AE (Yang et al, 2006). To what extent these dogs pose a risk to the local human inhabitants is presently unknown, but very high human prevalences in China have been reported in areas where the local dog population has had similar levels of infection to the present report (Budke et al, 2004).…”

Factores de riesgo para hidatidosis en estudiantes de enseñanza media de la comuna de Punitaqui, Chile

“…La tenencia de perros fue muy común en el grupo encuestado, siendo especialmente alta en zonas rurales. Esta conducta es considerada un factor de riesgo, ya que incrementa las posibilidades de padecer hidatidosis y a mayor número de perros por hogar, mayor es el riesgo de enfermar [29][30][31] . Cifras similares a las encontradas en este estudio se describen por otros autores, tanto en sectores urbanos y rurales como en la Provincia del Limarí 28 .…”

Multiple Pulmonary and Multivesicular Interatrial Septum Hydatid Cysts in A Native Italian Patient

“…Hydatidosis is rarely reported in the native European population, as most cases involve immigrants from countries where the disease is endemic; cases of disease localized within the inter atrial septum are exceptional [3][4][5][6][7][12][13][14] . Studies have reported many differences in parasite characteristics among geographic strains due to local patterns of transmission.…”

“…The disease is encountered in most parts of the world and occurs most commonly in sheep farming and cattle farming areas of South America, New Zealand, the Philippines, China, Arabia, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean basin [3][4][5][6][7] . The parasite is a small Taenia (less than 1 cm long).…”