1. [Epidemiological Survey of Echinococcosis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2012]
Maimaitijiang Wumaier, Adili Simayi, Yisilayin Osman, Yalikun Maimaitiyiming, Yan-yan Hou, Ning Xiao Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2016 Jun;34(3):249-54.
Objective: To understand the endemic status of echinococcosis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to provide scientific basis for planning and promoting control measures in this region. Methods Eight hundred people of all age ranges were examined in each of the selected agricultural area, pastoral area, pastoral-agricultural area, and township area of 92 counties in 14 prefectures in Xinjiang during March and October of 2012, resulting in a total of 3 200 people surveyed in each county. B ultrasonic abdominal scan was performed, accompanied by serum antibody detection for suspected cases. Methods: Eight hundred people of all age ranges were examined in each of the selected agricultural area, pastoral area, pastoral-agricultural area, and township area of 92 counties in 14 prefectures in Xinjiang during March and October of 2012, resulting in a total of 3 200 people surveyed in each county. B ultrasonic abdominal scan was performed, accompanied by serum antibody detection for suspected cases. Results: A total of 293 140 people were examined. The overall morbidity was 0.14%(407/293 140). The morbidity in the north region was 0.18%(290/158 985, 71.25%of all the cases), and that in the south region was 0.09%(117/134 155, 28.75% of all the cases)(P0.05). The prevalence was lowest in the 0-9 year group[0.07%(7/10 754)], and higher in the the age groups of 70-79[0.27%(33/12 310)] and 80-99 years[0.28%(7/2 461)], showing a trend of elevation with ageing. Further, the cases were mainly in the population of 30-49 years(43%, 175/407). The prevalence was higher in the uneducated[0.25%, 39/15 470] than in the educated populations(0.06%-0.14%)(P<0.05), and higher in pastoralists[0.29%, 63/22 074] than in populations with other occupations(0.00%-0.13%)(P<0.05). The prevalence in pastoral area, agricultural area, pastoral-agricultural area, and township area was 0.16%(70/44 247), 0.16%(181/113 016), 0.12%(88/70 610) and 0.10%(68/65 267), respectively. The township area had the lowest prevalence, which was significantly different from both the pastoral area and the agricultural area (P<0.05). Conclusion: Echincoccosis is widely distributed in Xinjiang, with more cases in the north.
2. [Epidemic Status of Echinococcosis in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province during 2007-2011]
Qing-hua Wang, Wen-jie Shang, Chun-tao Zhao, Shu-wen Zhang, Shou-long Lu, Xiao-dong Liu Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2015 Feb;33(1):45-8.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of echinococcosis in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province since the implementation of the echinococcosis control project from Sepical Funds for Central Government Subsidies to Local Public Health (2007-2011). Methods: Eight counties of Hezuo, Lintan, Zhuoni, Luqu, Maqu, Xiahe, Zhouqu, and Diebu were selected as survey sites. The prevalence in the sampled population was investigated by B ultrasound examination. Hydatid infection in children below 12 years old was serologically investigated by ELISA. The fecal samples from dogs were determined for Echinococcus infection by double antibody sandwich ELISA method. Livestock were dissected through slaughterhouse for pathological examination. Data of echinococcosis cases of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture from 2007 to 2011 were collected from the National Infectious Diseases Reporting System, and statistically analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 and Epi info software. Results: A total of 257 823 people received type B ultrasound examination in the 5 years. Five hundred eighty-one echinococcosis cases were found with an overall prevalence of 0.2%, including 578 cases of echinococcosis granulosus and 3 cases of echinococcosis multilocularis. The annual prevalence in the population decreased year by year, from 0.4% (97/21 938) in 2007 to 0.1% (68/63 980) in 2011 (P <0.05). Three hundred and six cases were officially reported to the National Infectious Diseases Reporting System during the period. Among those, female patients accounted for 58.2% (178/306) and male patients 41.8% (128/ 306). By occupation, more infection were found in herdsmen (82.0%, 251/306), followed by farmers (7.8%; 24/306). The cases were mainly distributed in the 20-60 year-old age group, with the highest prevalence in the group of 30-39 years (23.5%, 72/306). The sero-positive rate in children was 4.7% (1 571/33 613), which was highest in 2008 (8.4%, 413/4907), and lowest in 2010 (3.2%, 223/7 021) (P < 0.05). The mean positive rate of coproantigen in dogs was 6.3% (2 511/40 179), decreased from 11.9% (335/2 819) in 2007 to 6.3% (734/11 666) in 2011 (P < 0.05), with lowest positive rate in 2009 (3.7%, 354/9 550). The mean prevalence of livestock was 4.1% (914/22 087), decreased from 8.8% (235/2 658) in 2007 to 2.0% (144/7 347) in 2011 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Since the project implementation for echinococcosis control in 2007, the prevalence of hydatid desease in the population, the sero-positive rate in children, the positive rate of dog coproantigen, and the prevalence in livestock have been significantly decreased.
3. High endemicity of alveolar echinococcosis in Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the People's Republic of China: Infection status in different ethnic communities and in small mammals
Baoping Guo, et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Jan 19;15(1):e0008891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008891. eCollection 2021 Jan.
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a life-threatening disease in humans caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. The tapeworm is transmitted between small mammals and dogs/foxes in the Northern Hemisphere. In this study 286 AE cases were reported from eight counties and one city in Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the People's Republic of China from 1989 to 2015 with an annual incidence (AI) of 0.41/100,000. Among the patients, 73.08% were diagnosed in the last 11 years. Four counties in the high mountainous areas showed higher AI (0.51-1.22 cases/100,000 residents) than the four counties in low level areas (0.19-0.29/100,000 residents). The AI of AE in Mongolian (2.06/100,000 residents) and Kazak (0.93/100,000 residents) ethnic groups was higher than the incidence in other ethnic groups indicating sheep-farming is a risk for infection given this activity is mainly practiced by these two groups in the prefecture. A total of 1411 small mammals were captured with 9.14% infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes. Microtus obscurus was the dominant species in the mountain pasture areas with 15.01% of the voles infected, whereas Mus musculus and Apodemus sylvaticus were the dominant small mammals in the low altitude areas. Only 0.40% of A. sylvaticus were infected with E. multilocularis. PCR amplification and sequencing analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene showed that E. multilocularis DNA sequences from the small mammals were identical to isolates of local human AE cases. The overall results show that Yili Prefecture is a highly endemic area for AE and that the high-altitude pasture areas favorable for M. obscurus may play an important role in its transmission in this region.
