Prevention and treatment of echinococcosis

WANG Yong-yi; WANG Shu; LI Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2015.04.018

Abstract：Human echinococcosis is a parasitic disease in humans and animals caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or soil, or through direct contact with animal hosts. More than 1 million people are affected with echinococcosis all over the world at any one time. In China, echinococcosis mostly occurs in the western provinces and regions. Human infection with E. granulosus leads to the development of one or more hydatids located mainly in the liver and lungs, and less frequently in the bones, kidneys, spleen, muscles, central nervous system and eyes. The treatment of echinococcosis is often expensive and complicated, and may require extensive surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy. Prevention pro-grammes involve deworming of dogs, improved slaughterhouse hygiene, public education campaigns and vaccination of lambs. WHO is working towards the validation of effective cystic echinococcosis control strategies by 2018. This article focuses on echinococcosis based on the review of updated fact sheet (N377) by WHO and experience from the experts in China.