RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of echinococcosis in Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai Province in 2012. Methods: Two to three towns were selected in each of Chengduo, Nangqian, Qu malai, Yushu, Zaduo and Zhiduo Counties from June to August in 2012. Ultrasound examination was conducted for residents aged over 1 year, and ELISA was performed to detect serum antibody against Echinococcus. Visceral dissection was performed to detect hydatid infection in rodents and livestock. ELISA was used to detect Echinococcus antigen in collected dog feces. Results: A total of 7 025 residents received ultrasound examination, of whom 319 showed hydatid cysts with a morbidity rate of 4.54%. ELISA showed a serum antibody positive rate of 16.38% ï¼457/2 790ï¼. The mobidity of hydatid disease was highest in Chengduo County ï¼7.41%, 181/2 444ï¼, and the rate of serum antibody was highest in Yushu County ï¼23.18%, 127/548ï¼. The morbidity and serum antibody in males were 3.91% ï¼118/3 018ï¼ and 13.93% ï¼172/1 235ï¼ respectively, and those in females were 5.02% ï¼201/4 007ï¼ and 18.33% ï¼285/1 555ï¼. In terms of age distribution, the morbidity was relatively higher in residents of 60- ï¼8.39%, 38/453ï¼ and 40- years ï¼6.61%, 67/1 014ï¼; and the rate of serum antibody was highest in residents over 70 years ï¼33.93%, 19/56ï¼. In terms of occupation, the morbidity was relatively higher in herdsmen ï¼5.28%, 252/4 777ï¼, Herdsmen-peasants ï¼6.52%, 24/368ï¼, and religious workersï¼3.37%, 11/326ï¼, while the rate of serum antibody was relatively higher in childrenï¼24%, 6/25ï¼, religious workers ï¼18.79%, 31/165ï¼ and herdsmenï¼18.34%, 328/1 788ï¼. In terms of education level, the morbidity and the rate of serum antibody were both highest in the uneducatedï¼5.04%, 41/4 779; 18.34%, 359/1 958, respectivelyï¼. In terms of residential pattern, the morbidity and the rate of serum antibody were both highest in those who were settled in winter and nomadic in summer ï¼8.25%, 227/2 753; 19.48%, 158/811, respectivelyï¼. There were significant differences in the morbidity and the rate of serum antibody in aspects of residential region, sex, age, occupation, education level and residential pattern (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In 872 rodents detected, the Echinococcus hydatid rate was 0.46% ï¼4/872ï¼, while in 809 cattle and sheep detected, the Echinococcus hydatid rate was 10.14% ï¼82/809ï¼. The fecal antigen positive rate in 838 samples of dog feces was 10.74%ï¼90/838ï¼. Conclusion: It shows a high morbidity of hydatid diesease and serum antibody positive rate in residents, a high Echinococcus hydatid rate in cattle and sheep, and a high fecal antigen positive rate in dogs in Yushu Prefecture.