Epidemiology of Echinococcosis Among Schoolchildren in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China

Abstract

Echinococcosis is a serious zoonotic parasitic disease that is highly endemic in Qinghai Province. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of echinococcosis among schoolchildren in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to improve early diagnosis and treatment of patients and to provide information for echinococcosis prevention and control. A total of 11,260 schoolchildren from five counties (Maqin, Gander, Dari, Jiuzhi, and Banma) in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, were screened for echinococcosis. Screening involved ultrasound imaging combined with serologic examination as an auxiliary diagnostic test. The prevalence of echinococcosis in the schoolchildren was 2.1% (235/11,260), with a rate of 0.8% for cystic echinococcosis (CE; 89/11,260) and 1.3% for alveolar echinococcosis (AE; 146/11,260). Additionally, one child had a mixed infection. The prevalence ranged between 1.1% and 4.1% among the five investigated counties, and was highest in Dari County (4.1%). The prevalence of echinococcosis was higher in girls than in boys and gradually increased with age. In addition, children with CE mainly had type 1 (CE1) and type 3 (CE3) lesions, and children with AE mainly had small-diameter calcified lesions, suggesting that they were in the early asymptomatic stage of echinococcosis. In conclusion, children of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture appear to exhibit the highest recorded prevalence of CE and AE globally. Ultrasound is useful for screening populations in regions where both CE and AE are endemic.

Seroprevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis and related risk factors for infection among children in a rural community in Fars Province, Southern Iran

“…Such observation has been reported in some of the previous studies. 7,28,29 For instance, a retrospective analysis of hospital records of children with hydatid cyst in the south of Iran showed that the frequencies of hydatid cyst in females (56.1%) are higher than males (42.1%). 30 Contrary to our findings, studies by Mamishi et al and also Aslanabadi et al in Iran and Kandeel et al in Egypt reported a higher prevalence of hydatid cyst in males.…”

Echinococcosis: Advances in the 21st Century

“…AE has been a public health concern in northern Japan for the past 40 years (20)(21)(22). Mass screening with ultrasound (US) and serology in China have confirmed a high incidence of AE on the Tibetan plateau (in Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet [23]) and show that AE prevalence, especially in children, is higher than that of CE in several areas (24). Among the 18,235 estimated new AE cases per year globally, 91% occur in China 7, with human prevalence of Ͼ3% in some areas (25).…”

Worldwide literature on epidemiology of human alveolar echinococcosis: a systematic review of research published in the twenty-first century

“…Overall, the figures are unchanged and no recent spread, increase, or decrease of case numbers has been described by authors publishing Chinese data. The high prevalence in schoolchildren is particularly remarkable, as paediatric cases of disease are absolute rarities in other parts of the world [86][87][88].…”

“…Schoolchildren, 6-16 years + + + n/a n/a n/a n/a Cai [86] Qinghai (Yushu and Children, 6-12 years/ Tibetan rural population + + + n/a n/a n/a n/a Han [154] Qinghai (Huangnan Prefecture) 29 1150…”