The Effects of Management of Infection Source of Echinococcosis in Linzhi, Tibet Autonomous Region of China

Abstract

BackgroundEchinococcosis is highly endemic in western and northern China，Tibet Autonomous Region （TAR）is one of the most serious prevalent area with the prevalence of echinococcosis in humans was 1.66% and in dog was 7.30% in 2016. Linzhi is located in southeastern part of TAR with the prevalence of echinococcosis in humans was 1.55% and in dog was 7.28% in 2016.，Dogs are the main infection source for the transmission of echinococcosis to humans. A control and prevention campaignbased on dog management has been undertaken in the past three years. This study is toevaluate the effects of dog management on prevalence of echinococcosis in dogs.MethodsData of dog population, registration and de-worming of 7 counties/district in Linzhi from 2017 to 2019 were collected. Domestic dog fecal samples were collected from each endemic town of7 counties/district in Linzhi in 2019 to determine infection of dog using coproantigen ELISA. Data analysis was processed using SPSS statistics to compare dog infection rate between 2016 and 2019 by chi-square test, and maps were mapped using ArcGIS.ResultsIn Linzhi, domestic dog population with 17407, 16512, 12663 decreased and the registration rate with 5.92%, 95.48%, 98.64% increased each year from 2017 to 2019. Similarly, stray dog population with 14336, 13067, 11837 decreased while sheltered rate with 84.63%, 92.32% 96.63% increased year by year. Dog de-worming frequency increased from 4 times per annum in 2017 to 12 times in 2019, almost every dog was dewormed monthly. A total of 2715 dog fecal samples were collected for coproantigen ELISA assay. The dog infection rate was 2.84% (77/2715) in 2019, which significantly lower than 2016 with 7.28% (45/618) (P＜0.05).ConclusionIncreased dog registration, decreased dog population and increased dog de-worming frequency contributed to significantly decreased dog infection rate in Linzhi, TAR. Control and prevention campaign based on dog management can significantly decrease dog infection with Echinococcus spp in echinococcosis endemic areas but needs strictly implementation.