High Prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in Wild and Domestic Animals and Its Impact on Human Health
Author Information
Author(s): Bruno Gottstein, Francis Saucy, Peter Deplazes, Juerg Reichen, Georges Demierre, Andre Busato, Christian Zuercher, Paul Pugin
Primary Institution: University of Bern
Hypothesis
Does high endemicity of Echinococcus multilocularis in wildlife hosts affect disease incidence in humans?
Conclusion
Despite high prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in local wildlife, the incidence of alveolar hydatid disease in humans remains low.
Supporting Evidence
- Echinococcus multilocularis was found in 9% to 39% of rodents over the study period.
- 7% of feral dogs and 3% of cats tested positive for Echinococcus multilocularis.
- 6 out of 2,943 blood donors tested positive for Echinococcus multilocularis antibodies.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many animals and people might be infected with a parasite called Echinococcus multilocularis, and found that even though many animals had it, not many people got sick.
Methodology
The study involved surveys of rodents, dogs, cats, and blood donors over a period from 1993 to 1998, using various diagnostic tests to assess infection rates.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in sample collection as veterinarians informed pet owners about the study, possibly affecting participation rates.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the prevalence in domestic animals due to awareness and treatment measures taken by pet owners.
Participant Demographics
The study included 2,943 blood donors from 38 villages in the Fribourg area.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.005
Confidence Interval
[0.04-0.36]
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
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