title: Human infections with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Kyrgyzstan: the tip of the iceberg?
abstract: Dicrocoelium dendriticum is the causative agent of a rare food-borne zoonosis of the human biliary tract, dicrocoeliasis, for which few human prevalence data are available. Infection occurs through the ingestion of ants containing metacercariae, whereas pseudo-infections (presence of D. dendriticum eggs in stool in the absence of adult worms) are due to the consumption of infected animal liver. Here, results from a cross-sectional survey carried out among 138 children aged 2-15 yr in a peri-urban area of Kyrgyzstan are reported. Each child provided 1 stool sample that was subjected to the FLOTAC technique. Eggs of D. dendriticum were diagnosed in 11 children (prevalence 8.0%; 95% confidence interval 4.5-13.7%). Although no distinction could be made between true and pseudo-infections, the prevailing animal husbandry system and the diet and hygienic conditions of the study area suggest that the social-ecological system in Kyrgyzstan is conducive for human transmission of D. dendriticum. There is a need to investigate the epidemiology of dicrocoeliasis in Kyrgyzstan, placing emphasis on the distinction between true and pseudo-infections.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Aurelie
authors: A
authors: Jeandron
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Rinaldi
authors: Gulnara
authors: G
authors: Abdyldaieva
authors: Jumagul
authors: J
authors: Usubalieva
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Steinmann
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Cringoli
authors: Jürg
authors: J
authors: Utzinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004011:Dicrocoeliasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004013:Dicrocoelium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007707:Kyrgyzstan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology; D015047:Zoonoses