Trends and correlates of cystic echinococcosis in Chile: 2001–2012

Abstract

Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic disease affecting over 1 million people worldwide at any given time. It is the leading cause of hospital admissions for parasitic diseases in Chile. We conducted a retrospective investigation of hospitalized cases to describe the epidemiological trends of echinococcosis in Chile. We also examined the potential environmental risk factors for echinococcosis hospitalization rates. Through nation-wide hospital discharge data, a total of 11,516 hospitalized patients with cystic echinococcosis were identified between January 2001 and December 2012. The mean age of hospitalization was 40 years, with notable gender difference in pediatric patients. The hospitalization rate was found to be overall steadily decreasing from 2001 (7.02 per 100,000) to 2012 (4.53 per 100,000) with a 5% decrease per year (rate ratio = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.94, 0.96]). The hospitalization rate was higher in the south of Chile compared to the north. Goat density and intermediate precipitation were found to be significantly positively associated with the hospitalization rate while annual average temperature was found to be significantly negatively associated with the hospitalization rate. Findings of this study indicate that echinococcosis is still an important public health burden in Chile related to interaction with livestock and climate. Efforts should be placed on targeted prevention measures for farmers and raising awareness of echinococcosis among health care workers.

Evidence of Low Prevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis in the Catanzaro Province, Calabria Region, Italy

“…Indeed, the presence of CE in a geographical area has been correlated with the extent of sheep-raising activities, in particular with the density of sheep present in a territory; this has also been shown to correlate with the rates of CE-related hospitalizations. 23,24 Therefore, we selected our target municipalities among those with the highest presence of previously diagnosed human CE cases as reported in the records of the Department of Infectious Diseases of "Mater Domini" Hospital of Catanzaro. The selected municipalities were Pianopoli (population = 2,613; territory of 24 km 2 ), Tiriolo (population = 3,820; territory 29 km 2 ), Serrastretta (population = 3,082; territory of 41 km 2 ), and Guardavalle (population = 4,463; territory of 60 km 2 ).…”

Prevalence rate and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis: A cross-sectional, community-based, abdominal ultrasound study in rural and urban north-central Chile

“…In Chile, human CE is a notifiable endemic disease and the reported surgical incidence has remained stable at around 2.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants since the early 1990s [11,12]. Official records from medical notifications have shown higher surgical incidence in southern regions (>30 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Los Lagos, Ayse ´n and Magallanes) when compared to northern regions (10-30 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Coquimbo, Maule and La Araucanı ´a) [11][12][13][14]. In the Coquimbo region, the highest surgical incidence of human CE in 1995-2006 was reported in the Limarı ´province, reaching 8.5 cases per 100,000 people [15].…”

A Retrospective Analysis on the Cystic Echinococcosis Cases Occured in Northeastern Punjab Province, Pakistan

“…The average affected age varies with the variations in study area. The mean age of 40 years was also showed to be mostly affected in Chile [ 28 ]. Similarly mean age of 40 year was reported in Turkey [ 29 ].…”