Seroepidemiology of Fasciola Hepatica in Mersin province and surrounding towns and the role of family history of the Fascioliasis in the transmission of the parasite.
OBJECTIVE
Fascioliasis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica. This zoonosis may cause serious morbidity and a considerable financial burden. Knowledge about Fasciola hepatica and interest in this parasite have increased in Turkey recently. However, there have been few studies on the real prevalence of this condition in the country. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of fascioliasis and the role of family history of the condition in the transmission of the parasite in the province of Mersin.


METHODS
Taking account of their populations, 729 people without a family history of fascioliasis and 155 people with a family history of fascioliasis from the city of Mersin and randomly selected three towns were included into the study to obtain a sample that well represented the population of the province of Mersin. A questionnaire composed of items about consumption of green leafy vegetables, stock-breeding and clinical symptoms of the disease was used to collect data. Excretory/ secretory (ES)-ELISA was used to detect IgG antibodies to Fasciola hepatica. People seropositive for Fasciola hepatica underwent abdominal ultrasonography, physical examination, biochemistry, and stool tests for the detection of Fasciola hepatica eggs.


RESULTS
A total of 0.79% of the participants were seropositive for Fasciola hepatica. One point ninety-three percent of the individuals with a family history of fascioliasis and 0.55% of the individuals without a family history of fascioliasis were seropositive for Fasciola hepatica. Out of 7 individuals found to be seropositive for Fasciola hepatica, 5 were female, 2 were male, and 4 had a family history of fascioliasis. Five and 4 patients, respectively, had a history of consuming green leafy vegetables and 4 had a history of stock-breeding. The clinical evaluation revealed that 4 patients had at least one sign of fascioliasis. Three patients had signs of fascioliasis on ultrasonography and 1 had Fasciola hepatica egg in stool examination. There was no significant difference in seropositivity for Fasciola hepatica between the individuals with and without a family history of fascioliasis (x2: 0.077, p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of fascioliasis was hypoendemic in the province of Mersin. There were no significant differences in the Fasciola hepatica prevalence between the groups with and without family history of fascioliasis. However, studies with larger sample sizes may reveal a difference.
Ozturhan
Hakan
H
Departments of Microbiology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin. hakanozturhan@gmail.com
Emekdaş
Gürol
G
Sezgin
Orhan
O
Korkmaz
Metin
M
Altintaş
Engin
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005192:Family Health; D005210:Fasciola hepatica; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology*