[Epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis in the world]. / Dünyada Kistik Ekinokokkoz Epidemiyolojisi.

The incidence and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis have fallen dramatically over the past several decades. Nonetheless, cystic echinococcosis remains a major public health issue in several countries and regions as a result of a reduction of control programmes due to economic problems. Geographic distribution differs by country and region depending on the presence of large numbers of nomadic or semi-nomadic sheep and goat flocks that represent the intermediate host of the parasite, and their close contact with the final host, the dog, which mostly provides the transmission of infection to humans. The greatest prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in human and animal hosts is found in countries of the temperate zones, including Mediterranean regions, southern and central parts of Russia, central Asia, China, Australia, South America and north and east Africa. In this article, the geographic distribution and epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis worldwide are reviewed.

Worldwide epidemiology of liver hydatidosis including the Mediterranean area.

The worldwide incidence and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis have fallen dramatically over the past several decades. Nonetheless, infection with Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) remains a major public health issue in several countries and regions, even in places where it was previously at low levels, as a result of a reduction of control programmes due to economic problems and lack of resources. Geographic distribution differs by country and region depending on the presence in that country of large numbers of nomadic or semi-nomadic sheep and goat flocks that represent the intermediate host of the parasite, and their close contact with the final host, the dog, which mostly provides the transmission of infection to humans. The greatest prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in human and animal hosts is found in countries of the temperate zones, including several parts of Eurasia (the Mediterranean regions, southern and central parts of Russia, central Asia, China), Australia, some parts of America (especially South America) and north and east Africa. Echinococcosis is currently considered an endemic zoonotic disease in the Mediterranean region. The most frequent strain associated with human cystic echinococcosis appears to be the common sheep strain (G1). This strain appears to be widely distributed in all continents. The purpose of this review is to examine the distribution of E. granulosus and the epidemiology of a re-emerging disease such as cystic echinococcosis.

Biliary peritonitis due to "fallen" hydatid cyst after abdominal trauma.

Hepatic hydatid cysts may cause serious complications. Intraperitoneal rupture of hepatic hydatid cyst is rarely seen and the prognosis can be fatal. By experience, we know that it might be difficult to diagnose an unruptured cyst expulsed into the peritoneal cavity. In this report, we present the case of a 54-year-old man with an intraperitoneal cystic mass of 10 cm of diameter which had extruded out from the liver due to a blunt abdominal trauma.

[Is a hydatid cyst always an unimportant "secondary finding"? (author's transl)]. / Die Hydatidenzyste - immerr ein Nebenbefund? Kritische Wertung histopathologischer Untersuchungen in 527 Fällen.

527 small parovarial cysts, so-called hydatid cysts, were extirpated as "secondary findings" and examined histologically. 43 cysts (8,16%) were found with a definitely increased proliferation of the epithelium. In 12 cases (2,2%) so-called borderline tumors were detected, and a cystadenocarcinoma was identified in one. The results justify the demand to remove every small cystic or solid tumor in the range of the serous membrane of the small pelvis, and to let follow a routine histological examination.

Chemotherapy with praziquantel has the potential to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

In order to evaluate the applicability of anthelminthic treatment of wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to limit their infection with Echinococcus multilocularis, bait pellets, each containing 50 mg praziquantel, were repeatedly distributed in an area of 566 km2 where many foxes are infected, in southern Germany. After six baiting campaigns (15-20 baits/km2) over a period of 14 months, the prevalence of the cestode in foxes, initially 32%, had fallen to 4%. The effect was most pronounced in the central part of the treated area, where no positive fox was found in the 2 months before the end of the trial. The study was controlled for other factors that could influence the parasite's prevalence, such as the availability of intermediate hosts. While the potential of this baiting method to remove E. multilocularis from wild hosts has been demonstrated, the question of its long-term efficacy and other unresolved problems have to be addressed by consecutive studies before routine application can be recommended.

[Cystic lesions of the pancreas in childhood. A retrospective evaluation based on 7 personal cases]. / Zystische Läsionen des Pankreas im Kindesalter. Eine retrospektive Beurteilung anhand von 7 eigenen Fällen.

Cystic lesions in childhood are very rare. Since the introduction of sonography the diagnostic approach has become much easier, but surgical treatment is also much simpler nowadays. During the past 10 years we had the opportunity to treat 7 patients. Our results are compared with those published in recent literature.