Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Cystic Echinococcosis Endemicity in Pakistan

Overview

Journal Infect Dis Poverty

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2018 Jan 23

PMID 29353554

Citations 19

Authors

Aisha Khan

Kashf Naz

Haroon Ahmed

Sami Simsek

Muhammad Sohail Afzal

Waseem Haider

Sheikh Saeed Ahmad

Sumaira Farrakh

Wu Weiping

Guan Yayi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a human and animal health problem in many endemic areas worldwide. It is considered a neglected zoonotic disease caused by the larval form (hydatid cyst) of Echinococcus spp. tapeworm. There are limited studies on echinococcosis in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to find out recent knowledge, attitudes and practices on the occurrence of cystic echinococcosis in butchers and dog owners in both urban and rural areas of Rawalpindi/Islamabad regions, Pakistan. The quantitative data was collected in the form of questionnaires to investigate the knowledge and awareness of CE among community members and their routine practices that were behind the factors involved in hydatid cyst infection. The practices and infrastructure of abattoirs/butcher shops and their role in transmission of cystic echinococcosis were also evaluated in the present study.

Results: The participants involved in the study were dog owners and people who kept animals. A total of 400 people were interviewed and 289 questionnaires were received. The results showed that only 4.1% of people have heard about the disease, and 58.1% were closely associated with dogs. Sixty-three percent of dogs in study area were consuming uncooked organs (e.g. liver, lung, etc.) of slaughtered animals, while 100% of dogs at butcher shops were consuming uncooked organs. Home slaughtering was common in 20.06%. Among butchers, 32.3% had heard about zoonoses and 7.61% knew about CE. The statistical analysis showed that there was highly significant difference (P < 0.05) among most of the practices that were associated with the prevalence of CE.

Conclusions: It was concluded from the present study that, the knowledge and awareness of CE among people of Rawalpindi/Islamabad were low. Because of dogs and poor knowledge of CE among community members and butchers, the transmission of echinococcosis is facilitated. Therefore, there is urgent need to strengthen awareness and health education among people, as well as proper practices related to the CE not only in the study area, but also in other areas of Pakistan.

Citing Articles

Prevalence and molecular characterization of cystic echinococcosis in livestock in the Hazara Division, Pakistan.

Arbab S, Ullah H, Hassan I, Suleman , Wang W, Qadeer A Front Vet Sci. 2025; 12:1542572.

PMID: 40066194 PMC: 11891244. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1542572.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review.

Mihai C, Lupu A, Chisnoiu T, Balasa A, Baciu G, Lupu V Pathogens. 2025; 14(1).

PMID: 39861014 PMC: 11768134. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14010053.

Epidemiological and genotypic assessment of cystic echinococcosis in ruminant populations of Northern Punjab, Pakistan: a neglected zoonotic disease.

Khan S, Cable J, Masud N, Hailer F, Younus M, Hussain N Parasitol Res. 2025; 124(1):7.

PMID: 39821816 PMC: 11739240. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-025-08451-x.

A pilot study of microRNAs expression profile in plasma of patients with hydatid disease: potential immunomodulation of hydatid disease.

Xiao J, Wu J, Xin Y, Song D, Gao X, Yin M Parasitol Res. 2024; 123(10):336.

PMID: 39347812 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08350-7.

Communities' knowledge, perceptions and preventive practices on soil-transmitted helminthes in Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia: Formative mixed study.

Abdissa D, Kebede Y, Sudhakar M, Abraham G, Bulcha G, Shiferaw T PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024; 18(9):e0012483.

PMID: 39302891 PMC: 11414906. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012483.

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