Human Cystic Echinococcosis in the Nalut District of Western Libya: A Clinico-epidemiological Study

Abstract

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an endemic disease in the Mediterranean area that has not yet been fully documented in western Libya. The present study describes the clinico-epidemiologic profile of CE in western Libya’s Nalut district. From April 2008 to July 2011, 36 cases of CE were confirmed following surgical removal of cysts. The cysts were most frequently found in the liver (61.1%), followed by the lungs (19.4%), kidneys (11.1%), peritoneal cavity (11.1%), and spleen (5.6%). Among the 36 patients, 6 possessed plural cysts and 3 had cysts in 2 organs. Blood samples from this group were examined for the presence of serum anti-hydatid IgG antibodies, which revealed positivity in 25 patients (69.4%). An additional 300 blood samples were collected randomly from the inpatient and outpatient clinics at Nalut Hospital. Twenty-seven samples (9%) were found to be positive for the anti-hydatid IgG antibody among which the prevalence of infection tended to be higher in men (12%) than in women (6%). This study demonstrates that CE is a major parasitic infectious disease of public health significance in Libya, notably in the western part of the country, and that disease awareness needs to be raised nationwide.

Global Distribution of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis

“…Prevalence ranges from 1.7% in the north (Shambesh et al, 1999) to 9% in the northwest (Nalut) (Mohamed et al, 2014). The highest levels occur in the northeast (Benghazi), where rural residents are disproportionally U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O F affected compared to their urban counterparts (53.5% versus 46.5%, respectively) (El-Gidaafi and Kassem, 2013).…”

Serological Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Human Cystic Echinococcosis: A New Hope for the Future?

“…When compared with HF, the EgPpsSom performs worse. Less frequently, other somatic extracts have been applied in the serodiagnosis of CE patients such as those derived from the cyst wall (96.7% Se; [ 52 ]), the tegument of protoscoleces (81.3% Se; [ 16 ]), and the adult worm (82% Se; [ 55 ]). Cross-reactivity of those extracts is similar to that detected in HF.…”

Clinical and Parasitological Studies on Pulmonary and Hepatic Hydatid Cysts in Hospitalized Children and Adults

“…Generally speaking, the hydatid disease is endemic mainly in the Mediterranean countries (particularly Greece), the Middle East, the Baltic areas, South America, India, northern China, and other sheep-raising areas; however, owing to increased travel and tourism all over the world, it can be found anywhere, even in developed countries (Huizinga et al, 2000). In Arab countries, human hydatidosis was known long ago as in Tunisia (Ben-Osman, 1965), Saudi Arabia (El Marsfy and Morsy, 1975;Mallaika et al, 1980), North Africa (Matossion et al, 1977, Algeria (Larbaoui et al,1980), The Sudan (Saad et al, 1983), Jordan (Al-Yaman et al, 1985;Kamhawi et al, 1995, El-Shehabi et al, 2000, Syria (Hadidi, 1986), Morocco (Pandey et al, 1986;Anderson, 1997), Kuwait (Abdul Salam and Farah, 1988), Iraq (Saeed et al, 2000), Libya (Kassem, 2006;Kassem and Gdoura, 2006;Mohamed et al, 2014) and Y emen (Alam-Eldin et al, 2015). WHO (2013) planned for an effective disease control strategy by 2018.…”