title: Cystic echinococcosis in the Province of Álava, North Spain: the monetary burden of a disease no longer under surveillance.
abstract: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in Spain but has been considered non-endemic in the province of Álava, Northern Spain, since 1997. However, Álava is surrounded by autonomous regions with some of the highest CE prevalence proportions in the nation, casting doubts about the current classification. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency of CE in humans and animals and to use this data to determine the societal cost incurred due to CE in the Álava population in 2005. We have identified epidemiological and clinical data from surveillance and hospital records, prevalence data in intermediate (sheep and cattle) host species from abattoir records, and economical data from national and regional official institutions. Direct costs (diagnosis, treatment, medical care in humans and condemnation of offal in livestock species) and indirect costs (productivity losses in humans and reduction in growth, fecundity and milk production in livestock) were modelled using the Latin hypercube method under five different scenarios reflecting different assumptions regarding the prevalence of asymptomatic cases and associated productivity losses in humans. A total of 13 human CE cases were reported in 2005. The median total cost (95% credible interval) of CE in humans and animals in Álava in 2005 was estimated to range between €61,864 (95%CI%: €47,304-€76,590) and €360,466 (95%CI: €76,424-€752,469), with human-associated losses ranging from 57% to 93% of the total losses, depending on the scenario used. Our data provide evidence that CE is still very well present in Álava and incurs important cost to the province every year. We expect this information to prove valuable for public health agencies and policy-makers, as it seems advisable to reinstate appropriate surveillance and monitoring systems and to implement effective control measures that avoid the spread and recrudescence of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carabin
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Section of Hepato-Biliopancreatic Surgery, Txagorritxu Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Balsera-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Section of Hepato-Biliopancreatic Surgery, Txagorritxu Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rebollar-Sáenz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christine T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Section, Department of Health, Basque Government, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Aitziber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Public Health of Álava, Department of Health, Basque Government, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fernández-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Service, National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carmena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
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