Alveolar Echinococcosis in Germany, 1992-2016. An Update Based on the Newly Established National AE Database

Overview

Journal Infection

Date 2017 Nov 2

PMID 29090421

Citations 17

Authors

Julian Schmidberger

Wolfgang Kratzer

Klaus Stark

Beate Gruner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare disease caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. The newly established national database should enable us to determine high-risk areas and evaluate the endemic levels.

Methods: The national database was implemented using SQL Workbench. We used EpiInfo™ software to display the prevalence of disease. Moran's I geodata analysis according to cluster and high risk areas was performed with GeoDa™. SAS Version 9.2 was used for the statistical analysis of the cases (n = 523).

Results: The analysis showed a concentration of cases in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Moran's I showed a heterogeneous case distribution throughout Germany (I = 0.208815, Z = 32.6175, p < 0.001). In the period from 1992 to 2016, the prevalence was 0.64/100,000 inhabitants in the whole of Germany, 2.18/100,000 inhabitants in Baden-Württemberg and 1.48/100,000 inhabitants in Bavaria. The analysis also revealed a difference between men and women, with a prevalence of 0.58/100,000 and 0.69/100,000, respectively. The analysis of spatial autocorrelation and possible risk areas showed that the southeast regions of Baden-Württemberg (I = 0.188514, Z = 11.3197, p < 0.001) and the southwest part of Bavaria (I = 0.176953, Z = 13.5144, p < 0.001) constitute the high risk areas.

Conclusions: The prevalence of disease is noticeably high in the Swabian Jura, the Bavarian Alps and the Alpine foothills. Raising awareness and educating doctors in high risk areas may prevent new cases and assist in earlier diagnosis.

Citing Articles

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Helminths in Invasive Raccoons () from Southwest Germany.

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[Diagnostic delaying factors in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis].

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Dog Ownership and Risk for Alveolar Echinococcosis, Germany.

Schmidberger J, Uhlenbruck J, Schlingeloff P, Maksimov P, Conraths F, Mayer B Emerg Infect Dis. 2022; 28(8):1597-1605.

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Differentiation of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with a hemangioma-like pattern compared to typical liver hemangioma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: a pilot study.

Philipp J, Schmidberger J, Schlingeloff P, Kratzer W Infection. 2022; 51(1):159-168.

PMID: 35776381 PMC: 9879800. DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01866-z.

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