Human and Animal Cystic Echinococcosis in Tataouine Governorate: Hypoendemic Area in a Hyperendemic Country, Myth or Reality?

Overview

Journal Parasit Vectors

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Parasitology
Tropical Medicine

Date 2021 Apr 22

PMID 33883021

Citations 2

Authors

Selim Mrad

Raja Chaabane-Banaoues

Massaouda Ghrab

Hamouda Babba

Myriam Oudni-Mrad

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) has a worldwide distribution and is especially prevalent in North African countries. With a mean annual surgical incidence (ASI) of CE of 12.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, Tunisia is one of the most CE endemic countries in the Mediterranean area. Tataouine governorate is considered to be the most CE hypoendemic region in Tunisia (ASI = 0.92) despite favourable socioeconomic conditions that enable maintenance of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) life-cycle and a significant environmental contamination with E. granulosus s.l. eggs. The aim of this study was to assess human CE seroprevalence, prevalence of CE in food animals and environmental contamination by E. granulosus s.l. eggs in different districts of Tataouine governorate.

Methods: This study was conducted from January to December 2018. A total of 374 human sera samples were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies against E. granulosus using a commercial ELISA kit. Specimens were also collected from animals slaughtered at the Tataouine abattoir (n = 8609) and examined for the presence of hydatid cysts; 111 hydatid cysts were genotyped. Eggs of E. granulosus s.l. were identified by PCR and DNA sequencing from dog faecal samples (n = 288).

Results: Serological tests showed that 8.5% of the sera samples tested were positive for E. granulosus-specific antibodies. The average prevalence of hydatidosis in livestock was 1.6%, and CE infection was more prevalent in cattle than in sheep, goats and dromedaries. The contamination rate of dog faeces by E. granulosus sensu stricto eggs varied significantly from 0 to 23.5% depending on the collection area. Molecular analyses only revealed the presence of the G1 genotype for cysts and eggs.

Conclusions: Based on our findings, CE is likely to be more endemic in the Tataouine governorate than previously described. Thus, to implement an effective control programme against CE, a national survey should be carried out to determine human CE prevalence in the different Tunisian governorates.

Citing Articles

Zoonotic threat of cystic echinococcosis in Tunisia: insights into livestock prevalence and identification of the G1 genotype.

Abdelghani M, Mrad S, Chaabane-Banaoues R, Taoufik S, Charfedine M, Zemzemi L Front Vet Sci. 2025; 12:1536368.

PMID: 40051979 PMC: 11884321. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1536368.

Cystic echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infection) in Tunisia, a One Health perspective for a future control programme.

Gharbi M, Giraudoux P Parasite. 2024; 31:30.

PMID: 38874552 PMC: 11177845. DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024029.

Africa-wide meta-analysis on the prevalence and distribution of human cystic echinococcosis and canine Echinococcus granulosus infections.

Karshima S, Ahmed M, Adamu N, Magaji A, Zakariah M, Mohammed K Parasit Vectors. 2022; 15(1):357.

PMID: 36199100 PMC: 9535855. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05474-6.

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