title: Impact of "Grain to Green" Programme on echinococcosis infection in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China.
abstract: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic among the human population of Xiji County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, where the prevalence is estimated to be between 2.2% and 3.6%. Government-run sheep abattoirs in Xiji County have closed in recent years and, as a consequence, slaughter is carried out mostly at rural market places. The market place in Xinglong Township, Xiji County, is home to an increasing number of stray dogs and the lack of government control over slaughter practices potentially favours Echinococcus granulosus transmission. A survey of sheep, goats and cattle reared in Xiji County was conducted in Xinglong Market and Xinglong Township to determine prevalence and transmission dynamics of E. granulosus infection. The liver and lungs of all livestock aged one year and older were examined macroscopically post mortem; visual examination and palpation of organs determined overall prevalence of E. granulosus. Cysts consistent in appearance with E. granulosus were observed in 2/184 sheep (prevalence 1.0%) and 1/55 of the cattle examined (prevalence 1.8%); 0/13 goats were found to be infected. However, microscopic examination of these suspected cysts failed to confirm these samples as E. granulosus, giving a prevalence of confirmed infection of zero percent in all three species. The prevalence of liver fluke was 61.3% in sheep and 12.7% in cattle with a significant difference between males and females (p ≤ 0.001). Considering the high prevalence of echinococcosis in the local human population, the absence of CE observed among commercially slaughtered livestock was surprising. Several explanations for this discrepancy and their implications are proposed.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Eimear
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Gatton, Australia.
authors.forename: Tamsin S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China.
authors.forename: Hengbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Archie C A
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo-An M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Gail M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PR China; Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: Yurong.Yang@qimr.edu.au.
authors.forename: YuRong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D058751:Livestock; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Echinococcus granulosus; Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China; Outdoor slaughter market; “Grain to Green” Programme