title: Cystic echinococcosis in semi-nomadic pastoral communities in north-west China.
abstract: In order to determine the prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in semi-nomadic traditional pastoralist groups in north-west China, 2 large community studies were undertaken in Altai and Tacheng Prefectures in 1990/91 and 1995/96, respectively. The Kekergash community (Altai) comprised mainly ethnic Kazakhs, whereas the Narenhebuke community (Tacheng) comprised mainly Mongolians. Populations were screened for CE by abdominal ultrasound scan (US) and serological tests. The total prevalence of confirmed human CE was higher in Narenhebuke (2.7%, 49/1844) than in Kekergash (0.9%, 17/1861; P < 0.01). Within each community there was no significant difference of CE prevalence between the Kazakh and Mongolian groups, although Han Chinese exhibited twice the rate of CE (4.9%) in Narenhebuke compared to the dominant Mongolian population. For each community, human CE prevalence increased with age and there was a greater risk associated with the practice of home slaughter of livestock. Dogs were screened for Echinococcus granulosus infection and re-infection levels using a highly specific coproantigen test. The proportion of dogs with positive coproantigen tests was significantly higher in Narenhebuke (36.0%, 50/139) compared to Kekergash (17.8%, 16/90). In Narenhebuke the re-infection levels of dogs, as determined by coproantigen positivity, were higher in the winter quarters (49.4%, 39/79) compared to the summer quarters (18.3%, 11/60; P < 0.01). Furthermore, coproantigen re-test positivity was 25% at 3 months and 29.2% at 7 months. Highest dog coproantigen positivity was obtained over the winter period.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, First Teaching Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rogan
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vuitton
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartholomot
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Z X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: H X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: X F
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McVie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraudoux
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole