Echinococcosis in Colombia — A Neglected Zoonosis?

Abstract

Echinococcosis or hydatid disease is a near-cosmopolitan parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stages of cestodes of the genus Echinococcus, whose spectrum of clinical manifestations can vary from asymptomatic infection to death, the liver being the most frequently affected organ. In the absence of an adequate treatment, case fatality rate of affected patients may reach 100%, so clinical suspicion should always be accompanied by a complete workup and a prompt treatment. Like other zoonotic parasitic diseases, echinococcosis is associated with low socioeconomic and cultural levels, especially affecting rural areas of developing countries, not only by the morbidity and mortality it produces, but also by the economic impact associated to health care costs and productivity losses. Despite this, in Colombia and in other South American countries, epidemiological studies of this disease are limited, so it is not known with certainty the incidence, the prevalence, and the burden of the disease. The objective of this chapter is to summarize and describe epidemiological and clinical updated aspects of the disease, focusing on evidences and published research articles on echinococcosis in Colombia, finally questioning if this cestode zoonotic disease has been largely neglected.

Hydatid Cysts of Parotid Glands- Diagnosis, Treatment and Recurrences

“…This refers that active stages responsible for most clinical cases which encountered during examination. This comes in accordance with many studies [12,13,14]. Some biochemical parameters may be elevated in cases of parotid hydatid cysts although they were not specific.…”

Primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst in pancreatic head region

“…Echinococcus eggs deposited in soil can remain viable for up to a year. In the stomach, the outer capsule of the egg gets digested and the freed larva (oncosphere) penetrate the duodenal/jejunal mucosa, enter the mesenteric venules and portal vein and reach the liver [3]. Larvae with diameters less than 0.3 mm pass through the sinus capillaries of liver into the vena cava and right side of heart and reach the lungs, where they are entrapped by pulmonary capillaries.…”

“…HD is caused by the infection of the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus parasite belonging to family Taeniidae of the Cestode class [3].…”

Mapping the residual incidence of taeniasis and cysticercosis in Colombia, 2009–2013, using geographical information systems: Implications for public health and travel medicine

“…It is important to point the relevance of regional costumes, hygienic and alimentary practices that are significant risk factors related to the persistence and transmission of the pathology [45–53]. Therefore veterinary controls and pig-meat inspection are interventions needed especially in places where meat is just for local consumption [18].…”

“…Eosinophilia has been associated to cysticercosis for a long time, and before imaging techniques, the presence of eosinophils was a presumptive diagnosis for cysticercois [56,57]. Maps provide relevant and detailed information to assess the risk as well as to integrate prevention and control strategies and proposals for public health policies, and for joint control of parasitic diseases in the country, such as taeniasis and cysticercosis and follow the example of Mexico in the control of this and other cestode diseases [52,53]. Interestingly the GIS-based map of cumulative incidence of cysticercosis and taeniasis in Colombia (Fig.…”