One world health: Socioeconomic burden and parasitic disease control priorities

Abstract

Parasitic diseases present a considerable socio-economic impact to society. Zoonotic parasites can result in a considerable burden of disease in humans and substantive economic losses to livestock populations. Ameliorating the effects of these diseases may consist of attempts at eradicating specific diseases at a global level, eliminating them at a national or local level or controlling the disease to minimise incidence. Alternatively with some parasitic zoonoses it may only be possible to treat human and animal cases as they arise. The choice of approach will be determined by the potential effectiveness of a disease control programme, its cost and the cost effectiveness or cost benefit of undertaking the intervention. Furthermore human disease burden is being increasingly measured by egalitarian nonfinancial measures which do not sit comfortably with measurements of economic costs in livestock.This adds additional challenges to assessing socio-economic burdens of zoonotic diseases. Using examples from the group of neglected zoonotic diseases, information regarding the socio-economic effects of these diseases are reviewed and the use of this information in decision making with regard to control and treatment of these diseases is discussed.

Epidemiology of taeniosis/cysticercosis in Europe, a systematic review: Western Europe

“…Animal cysticercosis is normally asymptomatic, particularly if infections are light. However, cases are responsible for substantial economic losses to the meat sector [4]. NCC may be asymptomatic, but it can cause neurological manifestations such as seizures, headaches, focal neurological deficits, signs of increased intracranial pressure and deaths [5, 6] and is a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic areas [7].…”

Phylogenetic Pattern, Evolutionary Processes and Species Delimitation in the Genus Echinococcus

“…There are three different types of echinococcosis, which result from infection with different species of Echinococcus and are named for the structure of the metacestode; cystic, alveolar or polycystic. Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are major public health issues in many countries throughout the world and are recognised as neglected parasitic zoonoses Torgerson, 2013).…”

Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis in Madagascar: Comparison of immuno-diagnostic techniques and estimation of the prevalence in pork carcasses traded in Antananarivo city

“…Taenia solium cysticercosis is a neglected parasitic disease involving humans and pigs and is endemic in developing countries where pigs roam freely and scavenge human feces around villages (Torgerson, 2013). T. solium cysticercosis was reported to be highly prevalent in humans and pigs in Madagascar, with seroprevalences of cysticercosis in humans ranging from 7% to 21% in the 1990s and 7% to 48% in pigs (Andriantsimahavandy et al, 1997;Andriantsimahavandy et al, 2003;Michelet et al, 2010;Rasamoelina-Andriamanivo et al, 2013;Ribot and Coulanges, 1988).…”