Independent evaluation of a canine Echinococcosis control programme in Hobukesar County, Xinjiang, China

van Kesteren, FH; Qi, X; Tao, J; Feng, X; Mastin, A; Craig, PS; Vuitton, DA; Duan, X; Chu, X; Zhu, J; Wen, H

Abstract

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China is one of the world's most important foci for cystic echinococcosis. Domestic dogs are the main source for human infection, and previous studies in Xinjiang have found a canine Echinococcus spp. coproELISA prevalence of between 36% and 41%. In 2010 the Chinese National Echinococcosis Control Programme was implemented in Xinjiang, and includes regular dosing of domestic dogs with praziquantel. Six communities in Hobukesar County, northwest Xinjiang were assessed in relation to the impact of this control programme through dog necropsies, dog Echinococcus spp. coproantigen surveys based on Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) and dog owner questionnaires. We found that 42.1% of necropsied dogs were infected with Echinococcus granulosus, and coproELISA prevalences were between 15% and 70% in the communities. Although approximately half of all dog owners reported dosing their dogs within the 12 months prior to sampling, coproELISA prevalence remained high. Regular praziquantel dosing of owned dogs in remote and semi-nomadic communities such as those in Hobukesar County is logistically very difficult and additional measures should be considered to reduce canine echinococcosis.

Citation

van Kesteren, F., Qi, X., Tao, J., Feng, X., Mastin, A., Craig, P., …Wen, H. (2015). Independent evaluation of a canine Echinococcosis control programme in Hobukesar County, Xinjiang, China. Acta tropica, 145, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.01.009

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 24, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 7, 2015
• Publication Date: May 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 8, 2019
• Journal: Acta Tropica
• Print ISSN: 0001-706X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 145
• Pages: 1-7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.01.009
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.01.009
• Related Public URLs: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0001706X
• Additional Information: Funders : Wellcome Trust;Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in Universities; Projects : Multi-species transmission and control of echinococcosis on the Tibetan Plateau; Grant Number: #094325/Z/10/Z; Grant Number: IRT1181