The seroprevalences of cystic echinococcosis, and the associated risk factors, in rural–agricultural, bedouin and semi-bedouin communities in Jordan

Abstract

An ELISA was used to determine the seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, in representatives of the rural-agricultural, semi-bedouin and bedouin communities of Jordan. The knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) pertaining to the transmission of CE in such communities were also investigated. In the ELISA, serum samples from 2388 subjects were tested for IgG antibodies reacting with antigens in crude sheep hydatid fluid (CSHF). The rural-agricultural subjects were significantly more likely to be seropositive (11.4%) than the semi-bedouin (5.0%) or bedouin (3.7%), but male and female subjects were equally likely to be seropositive. Among the rural-agricultural and semi-bedouin subjects, those aged 11-20 years were most likely to be seropositive. Among the bedouin subjects, however, seroprevalence was highest for those aged 31-40 years. When the distribution of 59 seropositive subjects detected within 36 rural-agricultural households was investigated, 12 (33.3%) of the households were each found to have at least two seropositive members. Immunoblotting indicated that 27.1% of the seropositive rural-agricultural subjects showed immunoreactivity to at least one of the CSHF antigen-B components (of 8-12, 16 and 24 kDa). The living conditions, practices and lifestyles of the rural-agricultural, semi-bedouin and bedouin communities favour the spread of CE in Jordan and warrant an effective programme for the control of the disease.

Seroprevalence of human cystic echinococcosis and risk factors in animal breeders in rural communities in Denizli, Turkey

“…The United Kingdom, the Middle East, and North Africa have reported higher numbers of affected women [1,25,26]. However, this is in contrast to studies conducted by Cohen et al and Qaqish et al, wherein such associations were not observed [27,28].…”

Screening for cystic echinococcosis in an endemic region of Peru using portable ultrasonography and the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay

“…Field studies for CE in potentially endemic regions can provide valuable baseline prevalence data and can be used for surveillance of the human population as part of control programs. Serology is the method generally used for prevalence surveys in developing countries (Schenone et al 1999;Qaqish et al 2003;Pastore et al 2003). Tests that detect the antigen-antibody reaction known as the arc 5 were used for surveillance of human populations in endemic regions of Peru (Coltorti and VarelaDiaz 1978;Mercado et al 1989).…”

Cystic Hydatic Disease in Sheep: Treatment with Percutaneous Aspiration and Injection with Dipeptide Methyl Ester

“…Hydatidosis induced by Echinococcus granulosus remains an important parasitic disease mainly in the Mediterranean region (Lahmar et al, 1999) and in south America (Qaqish et al, 2003;Raether and Hanel, 2003;Romig, 2003;Seimenis, 2003) both in human and in veterinary medicine. The economic impact is important in terms of livestock losses (Torgerson, 2003;Umur and Kaaden, 2003).…”