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Background: To explore the relationship between the preoperative immune inflammation index (SII) and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the overall survival rate (OS) of patients with alveolar hydatid disease., Methods: The clinical data of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis treated by surgery in the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from January 2015 to January 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, and the SII, PNI, PLR and NLR were calculated. Spearman correlation analysis was utilized to analyze the correlation among SII, PNI, PLR and NLR. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was utilized to determine the best intercept values of SII, PNI, PLR and NLR, and Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between SII, PNI and various clinicopathological features in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. The kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves and analyze the relationship between them and the total survival time of patients. A cox regression model was used to analyze the relationship between SII, PNI and the prognosis of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. Finally, ROC curve was used to estimate the predictive efficacy of SII, PNI and COSII-PNI for the prognosis of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis., Results: A total of 242 patients were included, including 96 males and 146 females, aged 11.0-67.0 (36.6 ± 11.7) years. The values of SII, PNI, PLR and NLR are calculated, and the best truncation values of SII, PNI, PLR and NLR are given in ROC curve. The kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the relationship between SII, PNI, PLR, NLR and the overall survival time of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. The results showed that the median follow-up time was 45 months (95%CI: 39.484-50.516), and the average survival time was 49 months (95%CI: 47.300-51.931), which was low p<0.001); The 5-year OS rate of low PNI was significantly lower than that of high PNI group (37.7% vs 71.6%; p<0.001); The 5-year OS rate in low PLR group was significantly higher than that in high PLR group (70.4% vs 24.3%; p<0.001); The 5-year OS rate in low NLR group was significantly higher than that in high NLR group (67.2% vs 28.8%; p<0.001). Cox unifoliate analysis showed that SII, PNI, PLR and NLR were important prognostic factors related to OS. Cox multivariate analysis showed that SII(HR=4.678, 95% CI: 2.581-8.480, P<0.001) and PNI(HR=0.530, 95%CI: 0.305-0.920, P<0.05) were identified as independent risk indicators of OS, while NL was identified as independent risk indicators of OS ROC curve analysis showed that AUC of SII, PNI, PLR, NLR and COSII-PNI were 0.670(95%CI: 0.601-0.738), 0.638(95%CI: 0.561-0.716) and 0.618(95% CI: 0.541-0.694), respectively COSII-PNI is superior to SII and PNI in evaluating prognosis (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: SII and PNI can be regarded as independent risk factors reflecting the prognosis of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. The lower SII and the higher PNI before operation, the better the prognosis of patients, and the combined application of SII and PNI before operation can improve the accuracy of prediction., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Ren, Chen, Lei, Hou, Wang, Zhou, Ren, Fan, Wang and Yuan.)

Here we assess the effect of weather and anthropogenic environmental variables, particularly urbanization, on cystic echinococcosis mortality in Chile from 2001 to 2011 using a nonparametric regression model, multivariate adaptive regression splines, and Poisson nonlinear regression models. This study integrated data from various sources on weather and anthropogenic variables. The canine population had the greatest influence on human cystic echinococcosis mortality during the period analyzed. Urbanization among anthropogenic variables and temperature and precipitation among the weather-related variables were the main factors related to cystic echinococcosis deaths. Deaths decreased with urbanization level. Temperature showed a nonlinear impact on mortality, with an optimum value ∼11°C. Public policies aimed at improving safe management of companion animal populations are crucial in controlling the spread of this disease. Effective animal management strategies would have wide-ranging public health benefits, advance the welfare of companion animals and livestock, and decrease the number of human cystic echinococcosis cases.

Background: Cardiac involvement is an uncommon presentation of hydatid disease. In this study, we aim to analyze the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac and great vessels echinococcosis in our cardiovascular and thoracic surgery department., Methods: Through a 16-year period, from 2000 to 2015, 27 patients underwent surgery for cardiac and great vessels hydatid disease. The clinical, operative, and postoperative data were analyzed through this retrospective and descriptive study., Results: Most of our patients came from a rural area. The most common symptom was chest pain. The diagnosis was mainly made by transthoracic echocardiography, which has shown the right ventricle as the most frequent location of the disease. All patients received surgical treatment under cardiopulmonary bypass, and only six surgeries were performed without cross-clamping the aorta. Inhospital mortality rate was 7.4%., Conclusions: Cardiac hydatidosis is a rare but potentially serious condition whose treatment is mainly surgical even for asymptomatic patients owing to its possible fatal complications. The surgery outcomes are usually satisfactory. Follow-up examinations are highly recommended to detect recurrences., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Osseous cyst echinococcosis (CE) is an infectious disease that causes disability and deformity in patients, yet there is still no satisfactory treatment. Focusing on the feasibility and prognosis of radiotherapy as an adjuvant or palliative treatment for osseous CE, this study investigated the outcome of Meriones meridianus with osseous CE after radiotherapy., Methods: The study utilized a comparison control group design with three groups of gerbils, and 240 osseous CE gerbils were randomly divided into control, 40Gy/5times, and 50Gy/5times groups. Different doses of radiotherapy were given to the gerbils, and then, the effects of radiotherapy on gerbils and lesions were observed at 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy. Statistical analysis was done using χ 2 test, unpaired t -test, and one-way ANOVA., Results: Significant changes ( P < 0.05) were achieved between the three groups in terms of seven parameters at 3 and 6 months, including the number of dead gerbils and lesion sites with ulceration and infection, number of dead scolices, protein content, Ca2+ concentration, the maximum diameter of lesion site, and wet weight of cysts. Except for the number of dead gerbils and lesion sites with ulceration and infection, all other parameters were observed a big difference between 3 months and 6 months in the 50Gy/5times group., Conclusion: Radiotherapy at a dose of 50 Gy has inhibitory and therapeutic effects on osseous CE in gerbils, and radiotherapy could probably be a treatment option for persistent or recurrent osseous CE., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Chao Ma et al.)

The discovery of a hydatid cyst at autopsy poses the problem of its involvement in the mechanism of death. The aim of this study is to analyse the epidemiological and etiopathogenic characteristics of death attributed to hydatid disease, to discuss the mechanism of death and to propose preventive measures. This is a retrospective descriptive study of 26 cases of death with hydatid cyst autopsic discovered, collected at the forensic department of Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir (Tunisia) over a period of 27 years (from 1990 until 2017). In 26 cases, hydatid cyst was observed during autopsy of sudden death cases, which corresponds to 0.33% of the total of autopsies in this period. Of the 26 victims, 13 (50%) were men; the mean age was 43 years. Most victims were from rural zones (18 cases). In 20 cases, the complicated cyst was hepatic. It was cardiac in two cases. Of all cases, three cysts were cracked, and nine were broken. Of the 26 cases, only 15 were implicated in the death mechanism. Death was attributed to anaphylaxis in 12 cases, hydatid pulmonary embolism in 1 case, cardiac arythmia in one case and hemothorax in one case. Sudden death is the most dangerous complication of the hydatid cyst which can be discovered at autopsy. Several causes may explain its occurrence, the most common of which is anaphylactic shock., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of death cases of echinococcosis in China from 2008 to 2016, so as to provide an important reference for the prevention and control of echinococcosis., Methods: The death information registration and management system data were selected to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the death cases of echinococcosis. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 and the map was drawn by ArcGIS 10.1 software., Results: From 2008 to 2016, a total of 367 death cases of echinococcosis were reported in China, and the number of deaths in turn was 33, 30, 21, 32, 35, 54, 55, and 81 in each year, with an annual average crude mortality of 129.29 /10 5 . The average age of death was (56 ± 18) years; the sex ratio of male to female was 100∶94. There was no statistical difference between the male and female death cases ( χ 2 = 0.33, P > 0.05).The death cases of echinococcosis were mainly distributed in endemic areas of Qinghai, Sichuan, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan and non-endemic areas of Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Henan and Shandong. The death cases in the first eleven provinces accounted for 87.5% (321/367) of the total death cases, among which the highest proportions of the nationality, occupation, educational level, highest diagnostic units, and the place of death were Han (52.0%, 191/367), farmer (46.6%, 171/367), junior high school or below (57.2%, 210/367), provincial or three-level hospitals (46.6%, 171/367), and at home (59.9%, 220/367)., Conclusions: Since 2014, the death cases of echinococcosis in China have been increasing year by year, indicating that the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis is still very serious. The causes for the rise of the fatality rate remain to be further studied.

Background: Management options for cystic echinococcosis (CE) remain a serious problem. The main aim of this study was to examine the selection and complications of treatment applied in patients with CE. The second aim was to evaluate the mortality rate and causative factors., Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with CE between 1998 and 2015 was conducted, according to ICD-9 (code 122·0 to 122·9) criteria in the Complejo Asistencial Universitario of Salamanca, Spain., Results: Four-hundred-ninety-one (491) patients were diagnosed with CE disease and the treatment applied in these patients were: 166 (33.8%) patients received only surgery, 176 (35.8%) surgery and drugs, 17 (3.5%) drugs alone, in 131 (26.7%) patients the strategy was 'watch and wait', and only one patient (0.2%) was applied puncture-aspiration-injection-respiration (PAIR). Thus, a total of 342 patients received surgery, either alone (166) or combined with drugs (176), and a total of 193 (39.4%) patients were medically treated, either alone (17) or combined with surgery (176); 123 (63.7%) patients used albendazole alone; and 70 (36.3%) patients used a combination of albendazole and praziquantel. Sixty-five patients (19.0%) had complications after surgery and seven of them (2%) died. Only 15 (7.8%) cases had side effects from anthelmintics. Throughout the study period, 80 (16.3%) patients died, 14 (2.9%) of them due to CE disease., Conclusions: Complications of CE are one of the most common causes of mortality in CE patients, with size, location, and number of cysts, and the 'watch and wait' treatment strategy being the main factors associated with mortality.

The information on mortality from echinococcosis is important not only for a better understanding of the severity of the disease, but also for evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions. The aim of this research was to study the causes of mortality from echinococcosis. We have collected and analyzed the materials of 1,470 patients in 10 age - groups in the Republic of Armenia (from 2000 to 2016). To find out the causes of mortality from echinococcosis, we have analyzed the medical histories and protocols of postmortem examinations of 19 deaths from echinococcosis and 17 deaths due to other indirect causes not associated with the parasite. The average annual death rate from echinococcosis is 0.007 per 10,000 population, and the mortality is 1.29 (per 100 patients). The highest mortality occurs in people aged 70-79. Mortality from echinococcosis is also recorded among the unoperated children. The rupture of the parasitic cyst and hepatic insufficiency are major among the direct causes of mortality. Sometimes the hydatid cysts unrecognized during the life were first diagnosed at autopsy. Insufficient qualification of doctors in the field of helminthology, as well as the latent course of the disease or manifestation of minor symptoms in echinococcosis over a long period often led to medical errors. Further decline in mortality can be achieved by early diagnosis, timely hospitalization and treatment before the development of severe complications worsening the prognosis and outcomes of surgical intervention.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, complex and neglected zoonotic disease. CE occurs worldwide. In humans, it may result in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. Clinical management procedures have evolved over decades without adequate evaluation. Despite advances in surgical techniques and the use of chemotherapy, recurrence remains one of the major problems in the management of hydatid disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of CE recurrence and the risk factors involved in recurrence., Methods: A descriptive longitudinal-retrospective study was designed. We reviewed all patients diagnosed with CE according to ICD-9 (code 122-0 to 122-9) criteria admitted at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Spain, between January 1998 and December 2015., Results: Among the 217 patients studied, 25 (11.5%) had a hydatid recurrence after curative intention treatment. Median duration of recurrence's diagnosis was 12.35 years (SD: ±9.31). The likelihood of recurrence was higher [OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-7.1; p < 0.05] when the cyst was located in organs other than liver and lung, 22.6% (7/31) vs 14.2% (31/217) in the cohort. We detected a chance of recurrence [OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-6.5; p > 0.05] that was two times higher in those patients treated with a combination of antihelminthic treatments and surgical intervention (20/141, 14.2%) than in patients treated with surgical intervention alone (5/76, 6.6%)., Conclusions: Despite advances in diagnosis and therapeutic techniques in hydatid disease, recurrence remains one of the major problems in the management of hydatid disease. The current management and treatment of recurrences is still largely based on expert opinion and moderate-to-poor quality of evidence. Consequently, large prospective and multicenter studies will be needed to provide definitive recommendations for its clinical management.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hydatidosis in humans and livestock in the Los Ríos region during the years 1999-2009., Methods: A retrospective survey of all discharge records of patients undergoing removal of cysts produced by Echinococcus granulosus during the period 1999-2009 in the Hospital Clinico Regional of Valdivia was conducted. With the information provided incidence rate, mortality rate and fatality rate were calculated. Additionally, with the aim of determining prevalence of hydatidosis in livestock (i.e. cattle, sheep and pigs) official records of slaughtered animals for the same period from the Ministry of Health of Los Ríos region were searched., Results: During the ten-year period 238 new human cases were recorded, the average incidence rate for the period was 6.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, the mortality rate was 0.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the fatality rate was 1.3%. The most affected class group was the 15-64 years old with a 70% of cases. The districts more affected were Valdivia and Río Bueno. Most cases (54%) were from patients from rural areas, while the occupation more affected was housekeeping (29%). The liver (56%) and lungs (33%) were the localization where cysts were most frequently found. On 55% of cases, patients did not show any complication; meanwhile, infected cyst (11%) and unspecified complicated (8%) were the more frequent complication. Overall, 89% of cases recovered totally after surgery. Finally, the average in patient time was 14.7 bed-days. Prevalence of hydatidosis in livestock was 23% in cattle, 23% in sheep and 12% in pigs. The highest prevalence was found in slaughter houses in the districts of Panguipulli and San José de la Mariquina., Discussion: Human and animal hydatidosis is highly prevalent in humans and livestock in Los Ríos region compared to national and international records. Further research is recommended to assess risk factors for human infection and improving record-keeping and trazability of slaughtered animals to implement control measures at the farm level to help to stop the life cycle of the parasite and thus reduce human infections.

In the Baltic countries, the two zoonotic diseases, alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, and cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus, are of increasing public health concern. Observations from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania indicate that the distribution of both parasites is wider in the Baltics than previously expected. In this paper, we review and discuss the available data, regarding both parasitoses in animals and humans, from the Baltic countries and selected adjacent regions. The data are not easily comparable but reveal a worrisome situation as the number of human AE and CE cases is increasing. Despite improvements in diagnostics and treatment, AE has a high morbidity and mortality in the Baltic region. For the control of both zoonoses, monitoring transmission patterns and timely diagnosis in humans as well as the development of local control programs present major challenges., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Hydatidosis is mainly a slowly developing disease, so its appearance in children and adolescents means a relatively recent acquisition; its quantification at this age groups is an indirect mechanism for the evaluation of a prevention and control program., Objective: To characterize human hydatidosis in children aged 0 to 18 years in Chile., Material: Data from the Disease Notification System (2001-2009), hospital discharges (2001-2008), Deaths (2001-2008) and Years of Potential Life Lost (2001-2008) were used., Results: The incidence rate for the period was 4.4 cases per 100.000 inhabitants, male dominated. Hospital discharges rate for the period was 40.3 discharges per 100.000 inhabitants. The mortality rate for the period was 0.13 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants., Conclusions: The incidence rates of cases reported, hospital discharges and mortality tend to decrease. However, each new infection reflects the failure of prevention and control, which suggested to incorporate surveillance system tracking and monitoring of cases particularly children's domiciled contacts.

Introduction: Cystic echinococcosis is an infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, this form of echinococcosis is chronic, complicated, however, there is restricted knowledge about it., Methods: Medical records of a total of 127 patients were used, of which 44 patients were selected for analysis. These were the patients with a fully verified diagnosis, a parasitic lesion located in the liver and a detailed documented ultrasound description of the condition of the liver at diagnosis. The following information was collected from the clinical records: demographic data (age, sex), diagnostic method (ultrasound (US) examination and parasitological serology), clinical data (symptoms), cyst details (number, localization, and size) and treatment. Parasitic cysts of the selected patients were analysed and the disease was classified according to World Health Organisation recommendations., Results: Out of 44 selected patients, 32 were female and 12 were male. Patients' age varied from 27 to 83 (mean--55.34 15.33) years. Time until diagnosis ranged from the absence of complaints to a period of 180 months; the median time was 6 ± 6 months. The most common complaints were pain or discomfort in the abdomen (n=20). The analysis of the stage of the cyst at the moment of the diagnosis showed that most often the 3rd (n = 9) and the 4th stage (n = 20) cysts were found. The parasitic lesion was localised in the right hepatic lobe (n = 29), it was solitary (n = 24) and of average size 6.49 ± 3.73 cm. Results indicated that the cysts which were initially in the 5-10 cm size group were progressing more rapidly. Chemotherapy lasting for 3 years resulted in finding statistically important changes of the cysts in 20% of the patients--degenerative processes attesting the death of the parasite., Conclusions: It is necessary to develop a system that would allow identifying of patients at as early stages of the disease as possible, in order to ensure more efficient treatment and to avoid major impact on patients' quality of life by the disease.

Background: Cystic hydatid disease is still an important health problem in European Mediterranean areas. In spite of being traditionally considered as a "benign" pathology, cystic echinococcosis is an important cause of morbidity in these areas. Nevertheless, there are few analyses of mortality attributed to human hydatidosis., Objective: To describe the epidemiology, the mortality rate and the causes of mortality due to E. granulosus infection in an endemic area., Methodology: A retrospective study followed up over a period of 14 years (1998-2011)., Principal Findings: Of the 567 patients diagnosed with hydatid disease over the period 1998-2011, eleven deaths directly related to hydatid disease complications were recorded. Ten patients (90.9%) died due to infectious complications and the remaining one (9.1%) died due to mechanical complications after a massive hemoptysis. We registered a case fatality rate of 1.94% and a mortality rate of 3.1 per 100.000 inhabitants., Conclusions: Hydatidosis is still a frequent parasitic disease that causes a considerable mortality. The main causes of mortality in patients with hydatidosis are complications related to the rupture of CE cysts with supurative collangitis. Therefore, an expectant management can be dangerous and it must be only employed in well-selected patients.

The natural history of the echinococcosis can be studded with multiple complications; the most formidable is sudden death. We studied the epidemiological, pathological, and thanatological features of 34 sudden deaths due to hydatid cyst. The mean age was 33.2 years. A male predominance was observed with a sex ratio of 1.8. Most of our victims were from rural areas (79.4%). Sudden death was preceded by prodromal symptoms in 61.7% of cases. The most common was dyspnea (23.5%), followed by hemoptysis (11.8%). In 85.3% of cases, the cyst location was liver. It was cracked in 25 cases and broken in 6 cases. The rupture was spontaneous in 25 cases (73%). It was preceded by trauma in 7 cases. Death was related to an anaphylactic shock in 82.3% of cases, infection in 14.7%, and respiratory distress in 3% of cases. Sudden death is a serious and not exceptional complication of hydatid cyst. Several mechanisms may explain the sudden death.

Background: Hydatidosis as a worldwide zoonosis with a high socio-economic impact in Chile and other countries for which it is a notifiable human disease in our country., Objective: To characterize death rates by hydatidosis and whether there are differences according to the region of residence., Material: A descriptive analysis using Data System Deaths (2000-2010) was performed., Results: The total number of deaths was 293 (56% male). The mortality rate changed from 0.16 in 2000 to 0.11 in 2010 per 100.000 inhabitants. The main diagnosis corresponded to B67.9 (Echinococcosis, other and unspecified). Most fatal cases had a basic level of education and the Araucanía Region had the highest mortality rate. There was a loss of life of 5022.04 years by the premature death of 293 people, with a ratio of 0.31 PYLL years lost per 1000 inhabitants. In the Araucanía Region this ratio increased to 1.03 PYLL years lost per 1000 inhabitants., Conclusions: The mortality rate tends to decrease, however this trend might mask regional differences. It should be noted that deaths caused by hydatidosis are preventable deaths and therefore unjust. Finally, the mortality analysis is important to better understand the burden of the disease and evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.

Human ecchinococcosis also known as hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection caused by the tapeworm Ecchinococcus with 2-3 Million cases worldwide. We hereby report a 6 years period study of Sudden death due to hydatidosis aiming to analyze the epidemiological criteria, death circumstances, and autopsy observations attributed to hydatid disease. During the past 6 years, 26 death cases were due to hydatid disease. Our analysis shows that the sex ratio (M/F) was 1.6, the mean age was 31-year old, and 65% of the subjects lived in rural places. In 17 cases, death occurred in the victim's place, five victims died after a heavy exercise, and in two cases, death occurred immediately after trauma. At autopsy, 91% of the cysts were found in the liver. In three cases, death followed a septic state, and in two cases, it followed an acute respiratory failure. Death was attributed to anaphylaxis in 17 cases., (© 2013 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

Background: Peritoneal hydatid disease is a rare and poorly known disease. We report our experience with 17 patients treated for peritoneal echinococcosis. The main objectives were to analyze and discuss the specific features of the anatomic peritoneal lesions along with their surgical treatment., Methods: We analyzed retrospectively all patients treated in our unit for peritoneal echinococcosis between January 2001 and December 2008. Preoperative description of the lesions, and the surgical procedures were carefully reported., Results: Peritoneal hydatidosis represented 6.3% of all abdominal localizations. There were 10 women (58.8%) and 7 men (41.2%). Median age was 34 years. Ten patients (58.8%) had had previous surgery for abdominal echinococcosis. Ten patients (58.8%) had synchronous abdominal localization of hydatid disease, and two patients had synchronous pulmonary localization. Sixteen patients were operated on by laparotomy. We classified the anatomic lesions into four groups: localized form (n = 6, 37.4%), disseminated form (n = 8, 50%), "hydatid carcinomatosis" (n = 3, 18.7%), hydatidoperitoneum (n = 1, 6.25%). One patient had a ruptured hydatid cyst of the left liver. We performed total cystectomies in 10 patients, partial cystectomies in 8 patients, and omentectomy in 5 patients. Two patients (12.5%) had surgical complications. One patient (6.25%) died owing to a pulmonary embolism. Anthelmintic chemotherapy was given to two patients before surgery and to nine patients postoperatively. Recurrences were seen in two patients (14.2%)., Conclusions: Peritoneal echinococcosis can cause a large variety of specific and complex anatomic lesions. The disseminated form is the most common, and therefore the surgical treatment is challenging in most cases.

Background: Despite the endemic nature of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis infection in regions of the United States (US), there is a lack of data on echinococcosis-related mortality. To measure echinococcosis-associated mortality in the US and assess possible racial/ethnic disparities, we reviewed national-death certificate data for an 18-year period., Methodology/principal Findings: Echinococcosis-associated deaths from 1990 through 2007 were identified from multiple-cause-coded death records and were combined with US census data to calculate mortality rates. A total of 41 echinococcosis-associated deaths occurred over the 18-year study period. Mortality rates were highest in males, Native Americans, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and persons 75 years of age and older. Almost a quarter of fatal echinococcosis-related cases occurred in residents of California. Foreign-born persons accounted for the majority of echinococcosis-related deaths; however, both of the fatalities in Native Americans and almost half of the deaths in whites were among US-born individuals., Conclusions/significance: Although uncommon, echinococcosis-related deaths occur in the US. Clinicians should be aware of the diagnosis, particularly in foreign-born patients from Echinococcus endemic areas, and should consider tropical infectious disease consultation early.

Objective: To characterize the epidemiology of human hydatidosis in Chile., Material: Data from the Mandatory Disease Notification System (2001-2009), hospital discharges (2001-2008), Deaths (2001-2008) and Years of Potential Life Lost (2001-2008) were analyzed., Results: The average incidence, according to the mandatory notification data, was 1.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (men 51.4%). Median age was 38 years. Hospital discharge rate for the period was 6.3 discharges per 100,000 inhabitants. The main diagnosis corresponded to B67.9 (Echinococcosis, other and unspecified). The average mortality rate was 0.2 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The level of education of fatalities was mainly basic. There was a loss of 3.349 years of life due to the premature death of 235 people., Conclusions: The incidence rates of cases reported, hospital discharges and mortality tend to decrease. There is a noteworthy discrepancy between reported cases and hospital discharges, which suggests underreporting. Improvement of the notification system and additional prevalence studies are required.

Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by adult or larval cestodes belonging to the genus Echinococcus (family Taeniidae). The two major species of medical and public health importance are E. granulosus and E. multilocularis, which, respectively, cause cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Both CE and AE are serious and severe diseases, the latter especially so, with high fatality rates and poor prognosis if managed incorrectly. A number of recent reports indicate that CE and AE are of increasing public health concern and that both can be regarded as emerging or re-emerging diseases. This review discusses aspects of the biology, life-cycle characteristics, aetiology, and the global and Southeast Asian regional distribution and transmission of the Echinococcus organisms, and covers the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and diagnosis of the diseases they cause. The current countermeasures available for the control and prevention of AE and CE, including the development of animal vaccines for the latter, are also reviewed. E. granulosus still has a wide geographical distribution although effective control against CE has been achieved in some regions. E. multilocularis is more problematic as the primary transmission cycle is almost always sylvatic so that efficient and cost-effective control of AE remains a formidable challenge. Chemotherapy has facilitated less invasive surgical management of CE and AE. Nevertheless, as will be emphasised, there is a clear need for new advances in the prevention and control of both these neglected diseases.

Background: Liver cystic echinococcosis is considered a relatively benign disease, nevertheless, treatment is mandatory in symptomatic cysts and recommended in active cysts because of the risk of severe complications. Surgery is still considered the gold standard treatment. In the last two decades percutaneous injection of scolicidal agents has been developed with excellent results in terms of disappearance of the cyst, very low side effects and low mortality rate., Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty eight patients with 225 liver cysts were studied. A total of 108 patients with 151 viable hydatid liver cysts underwent Double Percutaneous Aspiration and Injection of alcohol of the cyst without re-aspiration of the ethanol, which remained in situ., Results: The mortality rate was 0.9% (1 patient), the overall morbidity was 8.6% with only 2.5% of major side effects. The mean hospital stay was very short (2.9 days). Follow-up ranged from 14 to 204 months (median 48 months). Ultrasonography showed complete disappearance of the cyst with reconstitution of liver parenchyma in 109 out of 225 (48.4%) cysts; in the remaining cysts a solid or a liquid findings were observed in 104 (46.2%) and 12 (5.3%), respectively, with a decreased volume of 50-80%., Conclusion: These data show that Double Percutaneous Aspiration and Injection of alcohol for hydatid liver cysts can achieve comparable results to open surgery. The low incidence of side effects shows that this technique is safe and cost effective, compared to radical or conservative surgery.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus is an endemic disease in Spain. Although specific control programmes initiated in the 1980s have led to marked reductions in CE infection rates in Spain, the disease still remains an important human and animal health problem in many regions of the country. Human incidence and livestock (including sheep, cattle, pigs and horses) prevalence data were gathered from national epidemiological surveillance information systems and regional institutions for the period 2000-2005. Additionally, data on the prevalence of E. granulosus infection in dogs were obtained from published literature. The most affected regions were those of the North Eastern, Central and Western parts of the country, (Autonomous Regions of Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Extremadura, Navarre and La Rioja), where human CE incidence rates in the range of 1.1-3.4 cases per 10(5) inhabitants coexist with ovine/bovine CE prevalence rates up to 23%. Control programmes of hydatidosis/echinococcosis should be reinforced in these regions to reduce the prevalence of the disease.

Cardiac echinococcosis is a rare affliction of the heart encountered in areas where the tapeworm Echinococcus is endemic. During the 15 years to September 2005, 19 consecutive patients (11 female; mean age, 25.6 +/- 12.8 years) with cardiac echinococcosis were operated on at Damascus University. Diagnosis was mainly established by 2D-echocardiography. Twelve patients also had extracardiac hydatidosis. All patients were operated on using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia. Intact cysts were generally enucleated, ruptured cysts were exteriorized, and interventricular septal cysts were managed by controlled puncture and aspiration. There was no operative mortality. All patients were placed on mebendazole postoperatively for periods appropriate to the extent of their hydatidosis. There were 4 known late deaths due to systemic extension of the disease. Cardiac echinococcus is a serious disease that should be managed surgically without delay. Enucleation of intact cysts under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest is our preferred method of excision. Anthelmintic medical treatment is a valuable and necessary adjunct to surgical management.

Basic clinical and special methods of diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis are described. Among 12 patients with cardiac echinococcosis 5 patients have been operated and 7 patients have been not. Five of seven non-operated patients died during 1 year due to disruption of the cysts. All 5 operated patients survived. It is demonstrated that surgical treatment should be performed with artificial extracorporeal circulation, and postoperative anti-recurrent anti-helminth therapy is mandatory. Medication before surgical procedures is contraindicated because it leads to cysts disruption with high risk of lethal outcome.

Here, we investigate in mice the immunogenicity of two antigens EgA31 and EgTrp which are expressed by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. These recombinant proteins were used alone or as a mixture (EgA31-EgTrp) to immunize BALB/c mice. By flow cytometry, we have shown that the ratio CD4+/CD8+ of splenocytes were significantly higher in the antigen-immunized groups. The specific antibody in the sera and cytokine producing splenocytes was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. EgA31, EgTrp or EgA31-EgTrp elicited high antibody titer of IgG and IgA. Among IgG isotypes, IgG1 was predominant for each antigen tested alone or combined. The production of IL-12, IFN-gamma, IL-10 and IL-6 cytokines was significantly higher in mice immunized with recombinant proteins. Our results suggest that, in BALB/c mice, a mixed Th1/Th2, response to EgA31, EgTrp and EgA31-EgTrp is obtained. The use of both antigens separately or in combination as candidate vaccine proteins is discussed.

Hydatid disease is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus characterised by cyst formation in various organs. The infestation mostly involves the liver. Hydatid cysts of the liver can rupture either spontaneously or due to trauma. Incidence of rupture is about 3-17% of all cases with hydatid disease. Unless treated surgically, rupture can result in death. Here, we present a case of hydatid cyst ruptured after a severe cough episode and disseminated first to the subcapsular area, then to the peritoneal space. Probably due to a decrease in parenchymal pressure in the liver after decompressive effect of rupture, the patient felt an improvement in abdominal pain, refused operation, and left the hospital on his own responsibility. This unfortunate relief resulted in a delay of 55 hours in management. The leakage of liquid materials into peritoneal space resulted in a severe inflammatory reaction and eventually death of the patient. The patient died of a late peritonitis rather than anaphylaxis, which is the most common reason for death in such patients. As a conclusion, physicians should be aware of a temporary relief in abdominal pain after cyst rupture that may cause a delay in management and in turn loss of patient due to peritonitis.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinical presentation and long-term outcome of patients treated surgically for complicated liver hydatid cysts., Patients and Methods: Eighty-four patients with liver hydatid cysts underwent an operation at the Geneva University Hospital between 1980 and 1999. Clinical presentation, postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term recurrence rate were evaluated., Results: Among the 84 patients with liver hydatid disease, 35 patients (41%) presented complicated cysts (ie, cysts that had developed a fistula into adjacent structures or organs). In most patients, the fistula communicated with the biliary tree (n = 25), but we also observed communication with the right lung (n = 3), the right diaphragm (n = 2), liver parenchyma (n = 1), and peritoneal cavity (n = 1). Complete removal of the cystic disease was possible in 24 of 35 patients (70%). In 11 patients, fragments of cysts were not removed because of their location adjacent to main vessels. Postoperatively, 8 patients (23%) developed a severe complication (grade II and III). There were no postoperative deaths, and no recurrences of hydatid disease were observed with a median follow-up of 8.6 years (complete follow-up was obtained in 69% of patients)., Conclusions: Complicated liver hydatid disease is frequent and was observed in almost half of patients operated for liver hydatid cysts at our center. Using a surgical strategy aimed at complete removal of cystic and pericystic tissue with simultaneous treatment of the fistulous tract, we observed 23% postoperative morbidity, no mortality, and no recurrence of disease with a median follow-up of >8 years.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical/pathological features and the outcome of the surgical treatment of cardiac hydatid disease in our unit and other hospitals of Anatolia over a fifteen-years period., Methods: Between 1984 and 2001, fifty cases of surgically treated cardiac hydatid disease were identified by systematic literature search from Anatolia. Twelve patients were operated at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara University within the same period. Overall thirty-nine patients were female (mean age 29.8+/-14 years). Sixty-three percent of patients were complaining of dyspnea at the time of referral to the hospital and 22% presented with signs of acute coronary syndrome., Results: The most common cardiac location was the left ventricle (46.7%) followed by the interventricular septum, the right ventricle and atria. The most common procedure was controlled puncture and aspiration of the cyst content, its excision and closure of the resulting cavity, which were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Overall Anatolian operative mortality was 4.8% (3 patients). No late deaths but recurrence in one patient have occurred., Conclusion: In view of the lack of efficient alternative treatment options, we recommend surgical intervention even in asymptomatic patients in order to prevent the occurrence of lethal complications.

Background: Multiple intracranial hydatidosis (MIH) is a rare disease, with serious neurological manifestations, high recurrence and a mortality rate comparable sometimes to malignant disease. The causes of multiple infestations and their mechanisms are not clearly understood. Several attempts at classification are reported in the literature, but the diversity in location of these cysts in the brain and other organs, their appearance and recurrence rates remain largely unexplainable., Objective: Multiple intracranial hydatidosis (MIH) is reported in a series of patients to evaluate their incidence, localization, complications treatment and recurrences. In this study we tried to explain the mechanism of multiple infestations, and to propose a new classification., Methods: This was a retrospective study of thirty-four patients with MIH, treated between 1976 and 1999. The diagnosis was made mainly by CT scan and confirmed by surgery. MIH following iatrogenic rupture of a solitary cyst in the brain was excluded. Hydatid cysts were removed by the method described by Arana-Iñiguez (1973) using Dowling's technique. Histopathological examination was used to confirm the presence of scolices. The patients were followed-up for 3-14 years., Results: Twenty six patients (76.4%) were under the age of 20 years with a male to female ratio of 1.0:1.83. Clinically, patients with cysts exhibited features of increased intracranial pressure and focal neurological deficit. The cysts had a diameter between 2 to 120 millimeters. Histopathological examination showed that 63.6% of the cysts were fertile. Eleven patients (46.4%) achieved a good outcome. The operative mortality rate was 10.7%. Overall mortality was 17.6%. Five patients had more than one recurrence, which appeared after 3 months to 3 years., Conclusion: MIH are rare; to date only 77 reported cases have been encountered. To have such a high incidence in Iraq raises the possibility of a different strain of Echinococcus granulosis. A suggestion is made regarding terminology and classification.

Cardiac hydatic cyst is a rare parasitic disease. We reported 45 patients with cardiac hydatid cysts; 33 of the 45 had a primitive, unique cardiac cyst. Altogether, 18 patients of our series were asymptomatic, and 27 patients complained of symptoms (dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations). In 11 cases the cyst was revealed by an acute complication; 3 of the 11 had pulmonary metastatic hydatidosis. The diagnosis was based on a series of test results in which hydatid serology and imaging (echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) played a predominant role. Cystopericystectomy is the gold standard procedure but is sometimes unsuitable for particular sites. In that case, a conservative approach (partial pericystectomy) is mandatory to preserve organ function. The operative mortality rate is 5.5%. Two pericardial recurrences were reported during follow-up.

In the region of la Araucania, located in the south of Chile (37 degrees 24'-39 degrees 34' South lat.), the economy is based in cattle raising and agriculture. The cases of human hydatidosis, mortality and notification registered in la Araucania 1991-1998 are reviewed. The rate for hydatid disease is 38.5 per 100,000 population. Liver (47.1%) and lung (40.7%) were the most affected viscera. Days in hospital, 11-20 the 56.1%. Disease in female is 51.1%. The mortality rate is 0.8 per 100,000, the most frequently affected county is Imperial. The age group 15-44 years is the most affected. The notification rate is 8.74 per 100,000 population. The rate for hydatid disease is higher than the rate of notification, then necessarily there exist a subnotification. We think that it is necessary to investigate the serological prevalence of hydatidosis in the population of the IX Region Araucania.

Cardiac hydatid cyst is rarely encountered and constitutes 0.5%-2% of all hydatid cases. Although left ventricular (LV) location for hydatid cysts has been frequently reported, the involvement of both the left ventricle and the interventricular septum (IVS) has not been previously reported in the literature. We present a case of cardiac hydatid cyst with fatal recurrent cerebral embolism and the unusual involvement of both LV and IVS demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiography.

In Russia the first one-stage operation for hepatic echinococcosis was performed by A.A. Bobrov by his method in 1895. At present there is much experience in surgical treating echinococcosis. With the advent of new ultrasonic diagnostic methods, computed tomography, and new germicide treatment methods have changed. The analysis of 228 patients with echinococcosis treated from 1983 to 1999 was carried out. The traditional surgical interventions were performed in 121 patients; the mortality was 2.5%, the relapse rate 22.3%. Minimum invasive interventions (punctures, hydatid cyst drainage, followed by germicidal treatment) were performed as the only treatment in 68 patients and with subsequent traditional interventions in 22 patients. Experimental studies demonstrated that the retention of gigantic acephalocysts in traditional treatment is the main cause of echinococcal dissemination. 80-100% Glycerin is the most effective germicide. Chemotherapy as the only treatment may be applied only in very minor cysts inaccessible to puncture. A combination of minimum invasive procedures and preoperative (1 course) and postoperative (2-3 courses) chemotherapy is the most effective.

An overview is presented of the various therapy options in cystic and alveolar echinococcosis based on the recent literature and upon personal experience with chemotherapy over the last 20 years. In regions with an optimal surgical infrastructure and relatively small patient cohorts, long-term chemotherapy is practically limited to patients with inoperable echinococcosis, i. e. < 10 % cystic and around 70 % alveolar echinococcosis.

Background: There is evidence to postulate that undernotification is the reason for the great decrease in the reported incidence of hydatidosis in Chile., Aim: To develop and propose a method to assess the notification of transmissible diseases, based on observed lethality and hospital discharges., Material and Methods: Human hydatidosis in the period 1985-1994 was used as a model to develop the method. Official reports and mortality were analyzed first, determining the first lethality rate. A second lethality rate was calculated based on hospital discharges and a third, based on all Chilean surgical series published in the last two decades. Adjusting official notification of lethality to the true lethality according to surgical series, the number of unreported cases was calculated and the true incidence of hydatidosis was calculated, summing these cases to the official notification., Results: According to this method, the real rates of human hydatidosis in the period 1985-1994, would fluctuate between 6.5 and 11.4 per 100,000. This figure is four times higher than the official notification in the analysed period., Conclusions: The correction of under notification based on hospital discharges, with or without correction for repeated hospital admissions, or real mortality of surgical series gave similar results, suggesting that both methods are correct.

During the last 10 years 70 cases of echinococcosis were diagnosed in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University School of Białystok, of whom 63 were Echinococcus (E.) granulosus infections. The Urban population (70%) and women (60%) dominated among infected persons. Seven cases were due to E. multilocularis infection. A family and endemie focus of E. multilocularis human invasion has been identified.

The aim of this work was to analyze the possible impact of livestock echinococcosis control programs in the XI and XII regions of Chile, on the incidence of human echinococcosis. National morbidity was stable until 1984, with an abrupt and important decrease afterwards. Mortality showed a slight tendency to decrease during this period. There was an increase in lethality, that was equivalent and contemporary to the communicated decrease in morbidity after 1985. It is concluded that the national and regional decrease in the communicated cases of echinococcosis is due to a decrease in the notification of the disease. This problem was originated in administrative decisions of the Ministry of Health in 1985, whose effects persist. An instrument to correct retrospectively this low notification is proposed.

An attempt to estimate the impact of hydatid disease upon human health in Scotland between 1968-89 was made by examining Scottish hospital discharge statistics, and death statistics. Because hydatid disease may be asymptomatic, and coding errors are more likely to occur with rare diseases, an assessment was made as to the likelihood of hydatid disease having been responsible for hospital admission. Over the 22 year period a total of 110 hospitalised individuals with a diagnosis of hydatid disease were identified; no deaths were recorded. Inspection of the other diagnoses and operations recorded for each case suggested that hydatid disease was responsible for hospital admission in only 65 individuals (59%). One further individual, who had been admitted to a hospital outside Scotland, was identified from a Western Isles register of cases receiving surgery for hydatid disease. This register was used to assess the completeness of the Scottish hospital statistics; 10/11 Western Isles cases were identified using hospital statistics. Local case registers seem essential for accurate estimates of incidence and prevalence, and to evaluate the need for control programmes. The median age of the 66 individuals considered to have been admitted to hospital because of hydatid disease was 49 years (range 4-85); 38 (58%) were male. A total of 36 cases were managed surgically (55%), and there was a tendency for the use of surgery to increase over the 22 year period. The Health Boards with the highest incidence of clinically apparent infection leading to hospital admission were: Western Isles, Shetland and Highland; with 2.53, 1.23, and 0.21 cases per 100,000 population per year respectively.

Conservative surgery of the spleen has become very popular. The authors report 36 cases of splenic hydatid cysts. This third site of hydatid disease is frequently associated with few symptoms and clinical examination only reveals splenomegaly, which has typical features on ultrasonography. Twenty-four splenectomies were performed with a mortality of 8.3% and a morbidity of 37.5%, while 12 resections of the roof of the cyst were performed with no mortality and a morbidity of 16.6% after a follow-up of 2 to 13 years. The authors consider that resection of the roof of the cyst constitutes of operation of choice, as it is conservative and safe, regardless of the anatomical conditions.

The causes of 48 gorilla deaths were investigated and normal weights for organs ascertained. Half of the gorilla deaths in zoos occurred before maturity at around 8 years of age. Eight of the 48 died in the perinatal period from rejection, stillbirth or abortion. The majority of gorillas succumb to various types of enterocolitis. The most common aetiological agents are Shigella, Salmonella, Balantidia and a variety of parasites, principally Strongyloides. A variety of preventable virus infections and fungal infections are important diseases that must be avoided in the captive maintenance of gorillas. Dental problems emerge as a recently recognized threat for gorillas, as does mycoplasma infection with arthritis.

A review of all patients presenting to Rotorua Hospital over a 25 year period with a diagnosis of hydatid disease was undertaken. The type of presentation, symptoms, signs, and results of investigations were all recorded. Where patients were submitted to surgery, the nature of the procedure and the postoperative course were noted. Mortality, and the presence or absence of recurrent disease at follow up was noted. Thirty-six patients were thus reviewed and the male to female ratio was 24:12. Twenty-nine of the patients were Maori and seven were European. Twenty-one of the patients (58 percent) had liver cysts alone, and 12 of the patients presented acutely. All but six of the patients underwent surgery at rotorua Hospital with a wide variation in the nature of the operative procedures. The overall mortality from hydatid disease was 11 percent and over a mean period of 8.9 years, of the 25 patients available for follow up, 22 remained free of the disease.

A study of the results of surgery for hydatid disease was undertaken at Royal North Shore Hospital for the period 1966-83. There were 51 patients who underwent surgery for this disease and follow-up was obtained in all but eight cases. Comparison of cumulative survivals for this group with that of a matched Australian population showed that patients undergoing surgical treatment of their hydatid can anticipate a normal life expectancy. There was no evidence that patients with extrahepatic disease fared any worse than those with disease confined to the liver. Documented recurrence of hydatid disease occurred in eight cases following surgery and only one patient actually died from hydatid disease. This was a case in which spillage occurred at the initial procedure. This paper is presented as a reminder that hydatid disease still occurs with sufficient frequency to pose therapeutic problems for surgeons. Whilst total eradication of the parasite will only occur with enforcement of public health measures, surgery would still appear to be effective therapy for established hydatid disease so long as care is taken to avoid cyst rupture.

Three hundred and fifty two cases of hydatid disease were diagnosed in a three year study in Eas Iran, where the disease is found frequently in rural areas. Camel meat is consumed in this region. The offal is given to domestic carnivorous animals, for example sheep dogs, and in these circumstances camels could contribute to the cyclozoonotic spread of the disease. Clinical symptoms are briefly mentioned.

Temporal trends in the prevalence and incidence of human hydatid disease in New Zealand were described with respect to the different phases in echinococcal control. The prevalence rate of human hydatid disease increased steadily from 1878 to 1954 despite some educational and legislative measures aimed primarily at controlling canine infections. There was not a marked reduction in incidence in young children and in Maoris until after the intensification of control activities by the voluntary committees in 1957, and the decline in incidence in all groups was maintained during the continuing national control programme. The incidence data were analysed by age, sex, race and residential history of patients, and by the site of hydatid cysts. Maoris were found to be at an unusually high risk of infection with Echinococcus granulosus, with incidence rates six times higher than those in non-Maoris.