Past and present of cystic echinococcosis in Bolivia

Abstract

Viable eggs of the canine intestinal tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) infect various intermediate hosts causing cystic echinococcosis (CE). Furthermore, CE represents a serious zoonosis causing a significant global burden of disease. CE is highly endemic in South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru. For Bolivia, no official data concerning the incidence in humans or the number of livestock and dogs infected are available. However, it is well known that CE occurs in Bolivia. We aim here to fill the gap in the current knowledge of the epidemiological situation of CE in Bolivia, providing a historical overview of documents published within the country, which have never been comprehensively reviewed. The very first documentation of E. granulosus infection in animals dates in 1910, while the first human case was reported in 1913. In total, 876 human CE cases have been reported in the scientific literature, with an apparent increase since the 1970s. In the absence of other epidemiological studies, the highest prevalence in human comes from Tupiza, Potosí Department, where 4.1% (51/1,268) of the population showed signs of CE at mass ultrasound screening in 2011. In the same report, 24% of dog faecal samples were positive for coproantigens of E. granulosus s.l. in ELISA. The highest prevalence in intermediate hosts reported at abattoir reached 37.5% in cattle from Potosí, followed by 26.9% in llamas from Oruro, 2.4% in pigs and 1.4% in sheep from La Paz. Finally, Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.), Echinococcus ortleppi (G5), and Echinococcus intermedius (G7) have been identified in Bolivia. Data reviewed here confirm that E. granulosus s.l. is circulating in Bolivia and that a proper prospective nationwide epidemiological study of CE is urgently needed to define transmission patterns as a basis for the planning and implementation of future control measurements.

Global distribution of Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in domestic and wild canids: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Previously, Cucher et al (2016) reviewed the diversity of the CE in domestic intermediate hosts and human cases from South America and showed that E. granulosus s.s., E. ortleppi and G6/7 cluster of E. canadensis are prevailed among examined livestock, particularly from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru (Cucher et al, 2016). Likewise, studies from Bolivia have reported considerable prevalence in slaughtered livestock (Ali et al, 2021). Due to such a great diversity of CE among livestock in South America, it is assumed that unchallenging access to the offal of slaughtered animals containing fertile cysts (e.g.…”

Cystic Echinococcosis in the Early 2020s: A Review

“…Following Table 1 , where the pooled prevalence across Asia was 0.0177, numerous studies found substantially higher rates of CE in certain regions, such as rural Mongolia (2.0% to 13.1%) [ 88 ], the Fars province of Southern Iran (8.73%) [ 89 ], and rural Zahedan, Iran (4%) [ 90 ]. The same holds true for South America, where the pooled prevalence was 0.0342, but higher prevalence rates were found in parts of Potos Department, Bolivia (4,3%) [ 91 , 92 ], and La Rioja Province, Argentina [ 93 ], emphasizing the need for more effective surveillance and control methods worldwide.…”