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Alveolar echinococcosis, transmitted between definitive hosts and intermediate hosts via predation, threatens the health of humans and causes great economic losses in western China. In order to explore the transmission mechanism of this disease, an eco-epidemiological lifecycle model is formulated to illustrate interactions between two hosts. The basic and demographic reproduction numbers are developed to characterize the stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibria as well as bifurcation dynamics. The existence of forward bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation are confirmed and are used to explain the threshold transmission dynamics. Numerical simulations and bifurcation diagrams are also presented to depict rich dynamics of the model. Numerical analysis suggests that improving the control rate of voles will reduce the risk of transmission, while the high predation rate of foxes may also lead to a lower transmission risk, which is different from the predictions of previous studies. The evaluation of three control measures on voles implies that, when the fox's predation rate is low (high), the chemical (integrated) control will be more effective., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors report there are no conflicts of interest related to the present article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Hydatid cyst contamination in food presents a persistent and pervasive threat to public health. Hence, several studies have been published on hydatid cysts in raw meat products. The current study aimed to meta-analyze the prevalence of hydatid cysts in meat. The search was performed in international databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from January 1, 2000, to February 10, 2024. A meta-analysis of prevalence was conducted using the metaprop command in the subgroups of countries, animals, and WHO regions. Meta-regression of the prevalence of hydatid cysts in meat over time and sanitation services ranking was conducted using a random effects model (restricted maximum--likelihood). Fifty-seven published references with 130 data reports were included in the study. The lowest and highest prevalence of hydatid cysts in raw meat was observed in Sudan at 0.01%, 95%CI (0.01-0.02) and Italy at 69.86%, 95%CI (68.14-71.55), respectively. The highest prevalence of hydatid cysts was observed in Sheep (12.32%), Cattle (11.85%), and Buffalo (10.65%). The lowest and highest prevalence of hydatid cysts was South-East Asian Reg (2.77%) and European Region (33.21%), respectively. Meta-regression showed that the prevalence of hydatid cysts has significantly decreased over time (p-value = 0.021) and insignificantly decreased with sanitation services ranking (p-value = 0.679). Therefore, in order to maintain the existing conditions and even reduce the burden of hydatidosis, public health education, promotion of hygienic practices, and investment need to be carried out continuously., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Herein we describe a single nucleotide polymorphism-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to rapidly detect and differentiate variants belonging to the European and North American lineages of Echinococcus multilocularis in clinical samples. This is an extremely relevant and applicable test in North America because the range of E. multilocularis continues to expand across the continent and because of a rise in prevalence in wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. The endemic North American (NA) and introduced European (EU) variants are believed to have different pathogenic potentials, with the EU variants being more infective and pathogenic than the NA variants. The rise of the EU variants of E. multilocularis increases the risk of spillover from wildlife to humans because of its increased potential for infectivity. Current PCR-based diagnostics can detect E. multilocularis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but DNA sequencing is required to identify the specific variant. Our assay provides a straightforward conventional PCR method to differentiate the NA and EU variants, and we suggest this same approach could be used for the diagnosis of other parasites or variants that are genetically very similar. As surveillance continues for E. multilocularis across North America, identifying the different genetic variants from different geographic regions will become essential to understanding the current epidemiological shift that the parasite is experiencing, as well as informing public health decisions in affected areas., (© American Society of Parasitologists 2024.)

Echinococcus species (spp.) are regarded as neglected cestodes causing several potential zoonoses of global public health. This systematic review critically appraises the worldwide distribution of Echinococcus spp. and genotypes (Echinococcus spp.: recognized species in the genus; genotypes: variants identified within E. granulosus sensu lato.) in definitive hosts. We analyzed 82 studies from major databases, comprising 24 individual host species, including canids, felids, and a hyenid species. Canids, particularly dogs, were the most studied group among the host species, with E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3) being the most frequently reported. E. granulosus s.s. was distributed across five major continents, while other Echinococcus spp. and genotypes exhibited an uneven continental distribution. The highest overlap of species existed among Asia, Europe, and Africa. Among the reported host species, 4.2 % were endangered (e.g. Lycaon pictus), 12.5 % species were vulnerable (e.g. Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, and Acinonyx jubatus), and 4.2 % were near threatened (e.g. Speothos venaticus). Overall, our review highlights the significance of canids, particularly dogs, as the core focus of scientific investigations, with E. granulosus s.s. being the most widely distributed species across five major continents, emphasizing the urgent need for continued research and public health efforts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis, resulting from infection with Echinococcus granulosus, poses a significant challenge as a neglected tropical disease owing to the lack of any known effective treatment. Primarily affecting under-resourced, remote, and conflict-ridden regions, the disease is compounded by the limitations of current detection techniques, such as microscopy, physical imaging, ELISA, and qPCR, which are unsuitable for application in these areas. The emergence of CRISPR/Cas12a as a promising tool for nucleic acid detection, characterized by its unparalleled specificity, heightened sensitivity, and rapid detection time, offers a potential solution. In this study, we present a one-pot CRISPR/Cas12a detection method for E. granulosus (genotype G1, sheep strain) integrating recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with suboptimal protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and structured CRISPR RNA (crRNA) to enhance reaction efficiency. The evaluation of the assay's performance using hydatid cyst spiked dog feces and the examination of 62 dog fecal samples collected from various regions of Western China demonstrate its efficacy. The assay permits visual observation of test results about 15 minutes under blue light and displays superior portability and reaction speed relative to qPCR, achieving a sensitivity level of 10 copies of standard plasmids of the target gene. Analytic specificity was verified against four tapeworm species (E. multilocularis, H. taeniaeformis, M. benedeni, and D. caninum) and two other helminths (T. canis and F. hepatica), with negative results also noted for Mesocestoides sp. This study presents a rapid, sensitive, and time-efficient DNA detection method for E. granulosus of hydatid cyst spiked and clinical dog feces, potential serving as an alternative tool for field detection. This novel assay is primarily used to diagnose the definitive host of E. granulosus. Further validation using a larger set of clinical fecal samples is warranted, along with additional exploration of more effective approaches for nucleic acid release., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, affect cattle by forming hydatid cyst in thier lungs, livers and pose great financial loss in animal production and country's economy by both direct and indirect effect. Despite its great economic and health importance, there is an absence of current information on cystic echinococcosis in cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in Ethiopia., Objectives: Current investigation determines the prevalence, organ distribution and fertility of hydatid cysts in cattle slaughtered at the Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February, 2023, to October, 2023, at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir in southern Ethiopia, through regular meat examinations and cyst characterisation to determine the prevalence, organ distribution and fertility of hydatid cysts., Results: The overall prevalence of hydatidosis recorede in current study was 17.9% (69/384) and has shown a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) with the body condition of cattle. However, there was no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) between the prevalence of hydatidosis and other risk factors such as sex, breed, production system and origin of animals. This study showed that the lungs and liver were the most affected organs in cattle, followed by the spleen and kidneys. On cyst characterisation, the majority of hydatid cysts were found sterile (55.4%) followed by fertile (38.8%) and calcified (8.7%) cysts. Out of 125 fertile hydatid cysts tested for survival, 18.8% (58/321) were viable and 20% (67/321) were nonviable., Conclusion: The finding of this study shows that cystic echinococcus was important health threat of the cattle and widespread in the internal organs of affected cattle causing significant economic loss by condemning edible organs that are not suitable for human consumption. Therefore, urgent and integreted preventive action is needed to disrupt the life cycle of cystic echinococcosis to tackle subsequent financial loss and risk of zoonosis to humans in the study area., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background/objective: The cestode Echinococcus granulosus causes cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic parasitic infection that constitutes a significant public health risk. This parasite has been documented to have potential reservoirs and carriers among wild canids, namely wolves, foxes and jackals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of E. granulosus sensu lato species/genotypes among wild canids in three northern, northeastern and north-western Iran regions., Methods: From 2019 to 2022, 93 wild canid carcasses (69 jackals), (22 foxes) and (2 wolves) were collected that were killed in car accidents or illnesses. Analyses of morphology and morphometry were performed to verify the presence of E. granulosus. To determine E. granulosus s.l. species/genotypes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP (ITS1) was performed utilizing the Bsh1236I (BstUI) restriction enzyme. COX1, NADH1 and ITS1 gene sequencing were also performed to confirm the PCR-RFLP results., Results: During this study, 93 wild canids were examined, and 3.2% (95% CI: 0%-7%) of the 93 were infected with Echinococcus. The north-western region of Iran showed two out of 30 jackals (6.6%) infected with adult Echinococcus compared to one out of 35 jackals (2.8%) in the northern region. DNA from Echinococcus was detected in these individuals by PCR. Based on PCR-RFLP analysis of the ITS1 gene and sequencing of COX1, NADH1 and ITS1 gene, E. granulosus sensu stricto genotype was confirmed in the jackals that had been infected., Conclusion: Evidence shows that E. granulosus occurs in jackals in Iran, with the E. granulosus s.s. genotype being the most common. This parasite has been identified as a zoonotic parasite with a genotype that can be transmitted to livestock and humans. Establishing effective control measures to prevent the spread of echinococcosis and ensure public health is crucial., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare but severe disease that affects more than 18,000 people worldwide per year. The complete sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of Echinococcus multilocularis has made it possible to study the genetic diversity of the parasite and its spatial and temporal evolution. We amplified the whole mitochondrial genome by PCR, using one uniplex and two multiplex reactions to cover the 13,738 bp of the mitogenome, and then sequenced the amplicons with Illumina technology. In total, 113 samples from Europe, Asia, the Arctic and North America were analyzed. Three major haplogroups were found: HG1, which clustered samples from Alaska (including Saint-Lawrence Island), Yakutia (Russia) and Svalbard; HG2, with samples from Asia, North America and Europe; and HG3, subdivided into three micro-haplogroups. HG3a included samples from North America and Europe, whereas HG3b and HG3c only include samples from Europe. In France, HG3a included samples from patients more recently diagnosed in a region outside the historical endemic area. A fourth putative haplogroup, HG4, was represented by only one isolate from Olkhon Island (Russia). The increased discriminatory power of the complete sequencing of the E. multilocularis mitogenome has made it possible to highlight four distinct geographical clusters, one being divided into three micro-haplogroups in France., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), represents one of the most significant zoonotic diseases globally, affecting both humans and animals. The objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of E. granulosus sensu lato in sheep and goats in a pilot region with a one-year slaughterhouse follow-up period and to determine the genetic differences and haplotypes among sheep, goat, and dog isolates. To this end, the prevalence of CE cysts was determined by monitoring the slaughter of sheep and goats at least three days a week at a slaughterhouse in the Siirt province of Türkiye during 2023. Additionally, faecal samples were collected from stray dogs and analysed using both flotation and molecular techniques. The presence of CE cysts was identified in 569 (11.12 %) of the 5119 sheep and 66 (2.31 %) of the 2860 goats after slaughtering. The highest positivity was observed in November (20.39 %), while the lowest was recorded in July (5.62 %). Of the sheep that detected positive, 25 (4.39 %) were less than one year old, while 544 (95.61 %) were older than one year. Of the infected sheep, 26 (4.57 %) were male and 543 (95.43 %) were female. 204 (35.85 %) sheep exhibited fluid-filled CE cysts, 338 (59.40 %) displayed calcification, and 27 (4.75 %) demonstrated the presence of newly developed cysts. The highest positivity was observed in December (5.83 %), while the lowest was recorded in May (0.62 %) in goats. Of the positive goats, two (3 %) were less than one year old, while the remaining 64 (97 %) were older than one year. Of the goats infected with CE cysts, 10 (15.15 %) were male and 56 (84.85 %) were female. Of the cysts, 56.1 % were fluid-filled, 42.4 % were calcified and 1.5 % were newly developed. Following DNA sequence analysis of CE cyst isolates obtained from the slaughterhouse, all 61 sheep sequences were identified as E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3). Of the 13 goat isolates, seven were identified as E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3), while the remaining six were classified as E. canadensis (G6/G7). The centrifugal flotation method was employed to detect the presence of Isospora spp. oocysts in eight dogs, Toxocara canis and hookworm eggs in three dogs each, and Dipyllidium caninum eggs in one dog. A total of 54 dog faeces were examined. No Taeniid eggs were observed in any of the dogs. Following PCR analysis of the mt-CO1 gene region in the dog faecal samples, four samples were positive for a 875 bp band. Only one of these bands was suitable for sequence analysis, which confirmed it as E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by species of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex. Different types of canids may act as definitive hosts by eating raw viscera infected with fertile hydatid cysts. The intermediate host (mainly ungulates) and humans acquire the infection through the fecal oral route (i.e. egg ingestion). Globally, more than 1 million people are affected by CE, causing a loss of 1-3 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and a financial burden of US$ 3 billion annually. Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) protocols promise to be a useful tool to detect DNA, providing a low cost and thermocycle-free methodology. Given that surveillance for CE can be performed in feces from canids or other environmental matrixes contaminated with eggs, the characteristics of a LAMP protocol would favor implementation in endemic areas with basic resources. Herein, we compared three LAMP protocols for the simultaneous detection of E. granulosus s.l. species that cause CE. This comparation was carried with DNA obtained from different stages of E. granulosus s.l. Two of these are newly developed protocols that showed good analytical sensitivity and specificity. In both cases, the use of malachite green dye to directly visualize the test result was possible. From these two new LAMP protocols, one had better values for the detection of DNA from different types of E. granulosus s.l. DNA samples. Therefore, through this study, we provide a low-cost new tool for DNA detection of E. granulosus s.l. in poorly equipped laboratories from endemic areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Conflict of interest The authors declare that no conflict of interest exist., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Echinococcus ortleppi is the genotype G5 of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato and is a zoonotic canine tapeworm of which larvae causes cystic diseases in domestic animals and also humans. While this species is highly endemic and widely spread in domestic animals, human infection is extremely rare and only sporadic, and thus, entire picture of human cystic echinococcosis due to infection with E. ortleppi is unclear. We have made an extensive literature review on the cases of E. ortleppi infection in humans and found a total of 19 cases from various places in the world with recent emergence in Asian countries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dogs are the most important definitive hosts of zoonotic taeniid helminths worldwide. Different Echinococcus and Taenia species of domestic and wild carnivores pose a potential risk to human population. High populations of free-roaming dogs (FRDs) in urban areas of Iran and widespread contamination of the environment with dog feces is a potential source of infecting people living in the urban regions with cystic echinococcosis (CE). Our knowledge on the risk of CE transmission in the urban settings in the endemic regions is limited. The present study surveyed the species and genotypes of E. granulosus sensu lato and other taeniids by examining feces of free-roaming dogs in the urban areas in the city of Kerman, southeastern Iran., Methods: The city was divided into 100 consecutive blocks of which 25 blocks were randomly selected. Fecal samples of FRDs were counted, mapped and fresh samples were collected. Then Zinc chloride flotation, and sequential sieving was performed, and the samples were examined under an inverted microscope. Single individual taeniid eggs were isolated, partial nad1 gene was amplified and sequenced to identify species and genotypes., Results: In total 5607 fecal samples of dogs were mapped and 83 fresh samples were collected. Taeniid eggs were detected in nine fecal samples (10.8%) from seven out of the 25 city blocks (28.0%). Echinococcus eggs were found in four samples (4.8%) from three city blocks, two samples containing E. granulosus sensu stricto (2.4%), two samples containing E. canadensis G6/7 (2.4%). In addition, three samples contained eggs of Taenia hydatigena (3.6%), and one sample of Taenia serialis (1.2%)., Conclusions: This study documented the potential risk of CE transmission to humans resulting from the feces of dogs roaming freely in urban areas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a life-threatening disease in humans caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis . Domestic animals, dogs, foxes, and small mammals constitute the circular chain of AE. To evaluate the infection, distribution, and genetic polymorphism of AE in the Ili Prefecture (Nilka, Xinyuan and Zhaosu), we conducted this survey., Methods: In June and July 2018, 267 small mammals were captured using water-infusion and mousetrap methods. Combined pathogenic and molecular biological methods were used to observe the histopathology of Echinococcus carried by rodents, amplify the mitochondrial nad 1 gene of the pathogen, and investigate the genotype and haplotype diversity of Echinococcus in rodents in Ili Prefecture., Results: Morphological identification revealed that these captured small mammals belonged to three species, with Microtus gregalis being the dominant species (183/267). Pathological and molecular biological results confirmed that E. multilocularis was the pathogen of echinococcosis in small mammals, with an infection rate of 15.73% (42/267). Among the three areas sampled, the highest infection rate of rodents was 25.45% (14/55) in Nilka County. However, there was no significant difference in the infection rates between regions (χ 2 = 5.119, p > 0.05). Of the three captured rodent species, M. gregalis had the highest infection rate of 17.49% (32/183), but there was no significant difference in infection rates between the rodent species (χ 2 = 1.364, p > 0.05). Phylogenetic analyses showed that the nad1 gene sequences obtained in this study clustered in the same clade as isolates from China. These isolates contained 21 haplotypes (Hap&#95;1-21); Hap&#95;2 was the most common haplotype (9/42). Furthermore, haplotype diversity (0.925 ± 0.027) and nucleotide diversity (0.01139 ± 0.00119) were higher in the Ili Prefecture than in other regions, indicating that population differentiation was high. Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests were negative (p > 0.10), indicating that the population had expanded. The low fixation index (Fst) ranged from 0.00000 to 0.16945, indicating that the degree of genetic differentiation was different among different populations., Discussion: In summary, Ili Prefecture is a high incidence area of AE, and Microtus spp. may play an important role in the transmission of AE in this area. The results of this study provide basic data for further study of the molecular epidemiology, genetic differences, and control of E. multilocularis in the Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang., 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 © 2024 Wang, Zhao, Ban, Zhang, Quan, Teliewuhan, He, Chen and Zhang.)

Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786), a cestode of the Teniidae family, causes human cystic echinococcosis (CE) also known as hydatid disease. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato includes the G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G8/10 genotypes which are known to cause human CE. This study aimed to differentiate genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. complex by employing EmsB, a tandemly repeated multilocus microsatellite, using next-generation sequencing (MIC-NGS). Human and animal histopathology-confirmed hydatid cyst tissue samples and reference DNA samples of E. granulosus G1, G3, G4, G5, G6/7 and G10 underwent MIC-NGS assay with custom primers amplifying a 151 bp EmsB DNA fragment. NGS data were analysed using online Galaxy analysis pipeline, a phylogenetic tree was constructed by MEGA software, and haplotype networking was performed with PopArt 1.7. All sixty samples (49 from animals and 11 from humans) included were successfully identified and genotyped with a 100 % success rate. The study showed improved discrimination power to distinguish all study samples including closely related E. granulosus s.s. genotypes G1-G3. The maximum likelihood tree reaffirmed the monophyly of E. granulosus s.l. The median-joining haplotype networking revealed 12 distinct haplotypes. In conclusion, MIC-NGS assay was shown to be sensitive, specific and simple to apply to clinical samples offering a powerful discriminatory tool for the genotyping of E. granulosus s.l.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an emergent neglected disease affecting human and animals in Egypt with a wide distribution and incidence. This study aimed to evaluate the use of a polyclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA in the detection of Echinococcus granulosus antigen in human and camel sera. Hydatid cyst protoscoleces antigen (PsAg) was isolated from hydatid cysts collected from naturally infected camel livers and lungs. PsAg was used for immunization of rabbits to raise IgG polyclonal antibodies (IgG PsAb). IgG PsAb were then precipitated, purified using Protein-A Sepharose gel and labeled with horseradish peroxidase enzyme. We assayed the purity of the IgG PsAb, and the two prepared E. granulosus antigens CPsAg from camel cysts and HPsAg from human cysts by Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The resulted protein bands of the prepared CPsAg appeared at different molecular weights: 180, 90, 68, 54, 42 and 22 kDa while, HPsAg shared with it in 4 common bands at 68, 54, 42, and 22 kDa. The purified IgG PsAb had been resolved at two bands at 52 kDa and at 32 kDa. Sandwich ELISA were performed for the detection of circulating E. granulosus antigens in sera of human (n = 183) and camels (n = 190). The purified IgG PsAb showed strong reactivity against E. granulosus infected human and camel samples and no cross reactivity neither with free-healthy negative sera nor with others parasitic diseases (Schistosomiasis, Fascioliasis, Toxoplasmosis, Ancylostomiasis for human samples and Fascioliasis, ticks' infestation, Eimeriosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Nasal myiasis, Toxoplasmosis for camel samples). The sensitivity of the assay was 98.25% (56/57) and 96.9% (31/32) against human and camel samples, respectively. Specificity was 100% in both human and camel samples. Sandwich ELISA detected CE in 33.3% (24/72) and 55.6% (50/90) random human and camel samples, respectively. Indirect ELISA, using CPsAg, was used for detection of antibodies in positive human and camels' sera and detected 96.5% (55/57) and 93.8% (30/32) of human and camel samples, respectively. In our study, Genomic DNA was extracted from protoscoleces fluid of human liver hydatid cysts to identify the Echinococcus sp. isolate based on NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NAD1) gene by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the isolate (GenBank: OP785689.1) were identified as E. granulosus sensu lato genotype. In conclusion, Sandwich ELISA technique was found to be a potent and sensitive assay for detection of hydatid antigen in both human and camel samples., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Canine-transmitted worms and an uncontrolled deworming program of stray dogs have caused that accurate diagnosis of zoonotic parasites received notable attention in endemic regions. This study aimed to assess the presence of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus infections in canids from Guilan province, northern Iran. A total of 272 fecal samples from carnivores were collected across 24 different regions in Guilan province between 2023 and 2024. All fecal specimens were observed following concentration and flotation techniques. DNAs of taeniid eggs were extracted, amplified, and sequenced targeting of specific mitochondrial Cox1 gene for E. granulosus and NAD 1 gene for E. multilocularis. On the base of molecular and phylogenetic analysis 1.47 % (in jackal) and 25 % (in dogs and jackal) of samples were positive for E. multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu strico G1 genotype, respectively. Molecular technique was found to be more sensitive in detecting infection in comparison with conventional techniques. Sequence analysis of Cox1 indicated a high genetic diversity (Haplotype diversity; 0.933; Number of haplotypes, h: 7) in E. granulosus G1. Current findings show that canids particularly jackals play potential role of definitive host in maintenance and transmission dynamic of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus in northern Iran. The presence of these infections is of particular concern in Guilan province due to the high influx of tourists, increasing the risk of transmission to humans. Therefore, the implementation of preventive programs is warranted to apply hygienic practices and adjusting deworming programs for the canids and at-risk individuals in the region., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (IR.AJUMS.REC.1400.686)., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Echinococcus spp. is an emerging zoonotic parasite of high concern. In Canada, an increase in the number of human and animal cases diagnosed has been reported, but information regarding the parasite's distribution in wildlife reservoir remains limited. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of wild canids infected with Echinococcus spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis in areas surrounding populated zones in Québec (Canada); to investigate the presence of areas at higher risk of infection; to evaluate potential risk factors of the infection; and as a secondary objective, to compare coproscopy and RT-PCR diagnostic tests for Taenia spp. and Echinococcus identification. From October 2020 to March 2021, fecal samples were collected from 423 coyotes (Canis latrans) and 284 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) trapped in 12 administrative regions. Real-time PCR for molecular detection of genus Echinococcus spp. and species-specific Echinococcus multilocularis were performed. A total of 38 positive cases of Echinococcus spp., of which 25 were identified as E. multilocularis, were detected. Two high-risk areas of infection were identified. The prevalence of Echinococcus spp. was 22.7% (95% CI 11.5-37.8%) in the Montérégie centered high-risk area, 26.5% (95% CI 12.9-44.4%) in the Bas-St-Laurent high-risk area, and 3.0% (95%CI 1.8-4.7%) outside those areas. For E. multilocularis, a prevalence of 20.5% (95% CI 9.8-35.3%) was estimated in the high-risk area centered in Montérégie compared to 2.4% (95% CI 1.4-3.9%) outside. Logistic regression did not show any association of infection status with species, sex, or geolocation of capture (p > 0.05). This study shows the circulation of Echinococcus in a wildlife cycle in 9/12 administrative regions of Québec., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lavallée-Bourget et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Hydatid disease is caused by the larval stages of the canine tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. It is one of the most critical helminthic diseases, representing worldwide public health and socio-economic concern., Aim: This study aimed to investigate the expression of apoptosis and immune response within hepatic tissues of humans and sheep infected with the Hydatid cyst., Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue was prepared from each tissue sample and used for histopathological examination by Haematoxylin- Eosin. Also, toluidine blue staining was used for mast cell detection, while an immunohistochemical study was performed to assess CD3 T lymphocytes, CD4 helper T lymphocytes, CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD20 memory B lymphocytes, CD68 macrophage, and caspase-3 antibodies., Results: The histological examination revealed significant changes, including the infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes with scattered giant cells, necrotic hepatic tissue, and fibrosis. Toluidine blue stain revealed a higher number of mast cells (5 cells/field) in humans compared to sheep (3.6 cells/field). The immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the CD3 were the most predominant inflammatory cell in the hepatic tissue of humans (intensive 70%), and sheep (moderate 38.47%). Caspase-3 was observed in all samples in different grades and mostly in human liver tissue., Conclusion: This data could aid in recognizing immunological markers for differentiating disease progression, as well as enhance the understanding of local immune responses to cystic Echinococcosis (CE). The findings could provide preliminary data for future studies on immune responses associated with Hydatid cysts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that still represents a serious threat to human and animal health worldwide. The Mediterranean basin is recognized as one of the major hotspots of CE due to several factors, including the presence of diverse intermediate host species as well as socio-economic and cultural conditions of local communities. This study aims to take a closer look at epidemiological data on CE in the Mediterranean area and assess the knowledge attitudes and practices of shepherds towards this disease in four countries (Algeria, Greece, Italy and Tunisia), highly endemic for CE, with the final goal of identifying highly endemic risk areas and practices in use which might potentially allow the persistence of E. granulosus infection in these areas. To update the epidemiological scenario of CE in Mediterranean areas, a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature on CE prevalence data published during the 2017-2023 period was carried out and, through a geographical information system (GIS), a map displaying the current CE distribution in the Mediterranean area was generated. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted through in-depth interviews of the farmers to collect information on their management system as well as knowledge attitudes and practices towards CE. From the farmer-participatory survey some risky practices emerged including the non-regular deworming of dogs or the use of ineffective drugs or dosing, as well as the provision of uncooked animal viscera to dogs. Finally, lower levels of knowledge and awareness of the disease was observed among farmers from North Africa compared with those of European countries. In conclusion, the results obtained highlight that CE is still a very serious problem in Mediterranean areas and increased efforts are needed to promote awareness among farmers and to turn research results into policy in order to reduce the spread of this disease, according to the One Health perspective., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) is a species complex with the potential to cause cystic echinococcosis (CE). Contact with the feces of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) fed with raw viscera of intermediate livestock hosts is a risk factor for this infection in the southern region of Brazil. Although the region has been considered endemic to CE for many years, molecular data regarding the species of the complex causing CE in humans are scarce. This study aimed to perform a molecular analysis of the biological fluid from a human liver cyst to investigate the species responsible for CE. Genetic material obtained from the hydatid fluid of a hepatic cyst from a human with CE was subjected to PCR to amplify mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the human infection by Echinococcus canadensis G7 in the state of Paraná, Brazil. This is the first molecular record of E. canadensis G7 infecting a human in Brazil, and it is important to reiterate the risk of human CE caused by this species in South America, as reported by a previous study in Patagonia, Argentina. From the epidemiological point of view, this finding is of great relevance for the southern region of Brazil, since this parasite has previously only been detected in pigs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, neighboring Paraná. The finding points to the importance of this identification in the molecular epidemiology of E. granulosus s.l., especially in South America., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Echinococcosis is a worldwide disease endemic to the western region of China. In 2023, echinococcosis was detected in one of 27 wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, northwestern China. Histopathological staining and full sequence mitochondrial (mt) analysis were used to determine the infection genotype. Echinococcus granulosus was detected in the wild boar liver, and the cystic lesion characteristics indicated the E. granulosus genotype (G1). This case is the first confirmation of wild boar serving as a transmitter for the G1 genotype of E. granulosus within China. These findings suggest that surveillance is needed to assess the risk of E. granulosus sensu lato transmission to humans and wild animals., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato species complex is responsible for the neglected zoonotic disease known as cystic echinococcosis (CE). Humans and livestock are infected via fecal-oral transmission. CE remains prevalent in Western China, Central Asia, South America, Eastern Africa, and the Mediterranean. Approximately one million individuals worldwide are affected, influencing veterinary and public health, as well as social and economic matters. The infection causes slow-growing cysts, predominantly in the liver and lungs, but can also develop in other organs. The exact progression of these cysts is uncertain. This study aimed to understand the survival mechanisms of liver and lung CE cysts from cattle by determining their metabolite profiles through metabolomics and multivariate statistical analyses. Non-targeted metabolomic approaches were conducted using quadrupole-time-of-flight liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) to distinguish between liver and lung CE cysts. Data processing to extract the peaks on complex chromatograms was performed using XCMS. PCA and OPLS-DA plots obtained through multiple statistical analyses showed interactions of metabolites within and between groups. Metabolites such as glutathione, prostaglandin, folic acid, and cortisol that cause different immunological reactions have been identified both in liver and lung hydatid cysts, but in different ratios. Considering the differences in the metabolomic profiles of the liver and lung cysts determined in the present study will contribute research to enlighten the nature of the cyst and develop specific therapeutic strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) causes significant losses in Andean livestock production and affects Andean food security. However, more studies are needed to understand the epidemiology of the disease. In addition, the potential contribution of Andean cattle to the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato needs to be known. This study aimed to determine the CE-prevalence and its association with risk factors, such as age and sex of the animals, the parasite load (number of cysts/organ) of condemned organs, and the viability and fertility of Echinococcus cysts from cattle in the Andes. The prevalence was examined in 348 cattle from an authorized slaughterhouse of Huancayo at 3300 m altitude. Cyst burden was determined by extracting all cysts from the total of the CE-infected organs. Cyst fertility and protoscolices viability were analysed from 90 randomly selected CE-infected organs. The CE prevalence was 35.6% (124/348; 95% CI: 30.6%-40.6%). There was no significant effect of age and sex on CE prevalence. CE was significantly more prevalent (p < 0.05) in lungs than livers, 34.8% (121/348; 95% CI: 29.8%-39.8%) vs 8.9% (31/348; 95% CI: 5.9%-11.9%). Most (75%) infected organs had one to five cysts. The mean cyst burden was significantly (p = 0.018) higher in the lungs than livers, 6.4 ± 4.9 vs 3.7 ± 2.9. Cyst fertility was 1.6% (10/608; 95% CI: 0.6%-2.6%). Despite the high CE prevalence, infected organs from Andean cattle play a minor role in CE transmission to dogs in the central Peruvian Andes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Manipulation of host behaviour by parasites to enhance transmission to the next host is a fascinating phenomenon that has interested scientists since the 1970s. It has been proposed that infection with the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis produces an impairment of the antipredatory behaviour in the rodent intermediate host common vole, Microtus arvalis , which may facilitate transmission of the tapeworm to the canid final host. In this study, we observed the behaviour of infected common voles at 12 weeks post-infection, when protoscoleces production and maturation commonly occurs, in order to assess behavioural changes compared to uninfected controls, that might ease predation in the wild. Infected and uninfected voles were monitored for 24 h to observe their spontaneous activity. In addition, the next day, both infected and uninfected voles were subjected to 4 different behavioural tests: open field test, barrier test, platform test and air-puff test in a running wheel. No significant difference between uninfected and infected voles emerged during the behavioural tests. However, observation of spontaneous activity revealed that infected voles increased their feeding frequency and spent significantly more time above bedding even when not eating, compared to the uninfected controls. In the wild, these behavioural changes increase the animals exposure to predators, raising their chance of becoming prey. These findings are the first direct evidence consistent with behavioural manipulation by E. multilocularis on common voles.

Key parasite transmission parameters are difficult to obtain from elusive wild animals. For Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), the red fox is responsible for most of the environmental contamination in Europe. The identification of individual spreaders of E. multilocularis environmental contamination is crucial to improving our understanding of the ecology of parasite transmission in areas of high endemicity and optimising the effectiveness of prevention and control measures in the field. Genetic faecal sampling appears to be a feasible method to gain information about the faecal deposition of individual animals. We conducted a 4 year faecal sampling study in a village that is highly endemic for E. multilocularis, to assess the feasibility of individual identification and sexing of foxes to describe individual infection patterns. Individual fox identification from faecal samples was performed by obtaining reliable genotypes from 14 microsatellites and one sex locus, coupled with the detection of E. multilocularis DNA, first using captive foxes and then by environmental sampling. From a collection of 386 fox stools collected between 2017 and 2020, tested for the presence of E. multilocularis DNA, 180 were selected and 124 samples were successfully genotyped (68.9%). In total, 45 unique individual foxes were identified and 26 associated with at least one sample which tested positive for E. multilocularis (Em(+)). Estimation of the population size showed the fox population to be between 29 and 34 individuals for a given year and 67 individuals over 4 years. One-third of infected individuals (9/26 Em(+) foxes) deposited 2/3 of the faeces which tested positive for E. multilocularis (36/60 Em(+) stools). Genetic investigation showed a significantly higher average number of multiple stools for females than males, suggesting that the two sexes potentially defecated unequally in the studied area. Three partially overlapping clusters of fox faeces were found, with one cluster concentrating 2/3 of the total E. multilocularis-positive faeces. Based on these findings, we estimated that 12.5 million E. multilocularis eggs were produced during the study period, emphasizing the high contamination level of the environment and the risk of exposure faced by the parasite hosts., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify Echinococcus species by morphological and molecular means., Methods: A dead gray wolf (Canis lupus) was found near Erzurum province and brought to the parasitology laboratory. Sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were conducted., Results: The SCT implications indicated that the wolf had a substantial worm burden (62,720 and 49,280 parasites) due to a co-infection of E. granulosus s.l. and E. multilocularis. Genus/species-specific PCR was used to analyze DNA extracted from adult worms and confirmed as E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis, utilizing COI and 12S rRNA gene sequence analysis, respectively., Conclusion: This report presents the first co-detection of E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis in a gray wolf found in an urban area in a highly endemic area for human echinococcosis in northeastern Turkey. The results emphasize that AE is not only a problem of rural areas, but also occurs in urban areas, which may pose a threat to public health. Therefore, surveillance in urban areas is crucial. The need to develop new control strategies for domestic and wildlife in the study area is also highlighted., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) represents a profoundly perilous zoonotic disease. The advent of viral macrogenomics has facilitated the exploration of hitherto uncharted viral territories. In the scope of this investigation, our objective is to scrutinize disparities in the intestinal microbiotic ecosystems of canines dwelling in elevated terrains and those afflicted by Echinococcus infection, employing the tool of viral macrogenomics., Methods: In this study, we collected a comprehensive total of 1,970 fecal samples from plateau dogs infected with Echinococcus, as well as healthy control plateau dogs from the Yushu and Guoluo regions in the highland terrain of China. These samples were subjected to viral macrogenomic analysis to investigate the viral community inhabiting the canine gastrointestinal tract., Results: Our meticulous analysis led to the identification of 136 viral genomic sequences, encompassing eight distinct viral families., Conclusion: The outcomes of this study hold the potential to enhance our comprehension of the intricate interplay between hosts, parasites, and viral communities within the highland canine gut ecosystem. Through the examination of phage presence, it may aid in early detection or assessment of infection severity, providing valuable insights into Echinococcus infection and offering prospects for potential treatment strategies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control., Methods: One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 ( cox1 ) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method., Results: A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ 2 = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously., Conclusions: Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.

Canids harbor many zoonotic parasites and play an important role in the spread of parasites in the human environment. Estimation of parasitic infection among canids as definitive hosts may help competent authorities design efficient control programs. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and foxes with an emphasis on Echinococcus spp. A total of 500 fecal samples of dogs and 30 fecal samples of foxes were studied in the summer, autumn, and winter of 2021 in the Zanjan province using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, followed by multiplex PCR. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection was estimated to be 19.05%. The prevalence was 24.8%, 10.2%, and 26.7% in stray, shelter dogs and foxes, respectively. No parasites were found among pet and guard dog samples. PCR results on Taenidae eggs showed that 2.4% of samples were positive for Echinococcus granulosus and none contained E. multilocularis. Noteworthy is that E. granulosus was identified only in stray dog samples. The higher prevalence of E. granulosus infection in stray dogs in this province emphasizes the importance of monitoring the food sources consumed by these animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The cestode Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a fatal zoonotic parasitic disease of the northern hemisphere. Red foxes are the main reservoir hosts and, likely, the main drivers of the geographic spread of the disease in Europe. Knowledge of genetic relationships among E. multilocularis isolates at a European scale is key to understanding the dispersal characteristics of E. multilocularis. Hence, the present study aimed to describe the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis isolates obtained from different host species in 19 European countries. Based on the analysis of complete nucleotide sequences of the cob, atp6, nad2, nad1 and cox1 mitochondrial genes (4,968 bp), 43 haplotypes were inferred. Four haplotypes represented 62.56 % of the examined isolates (142/227), and one of these four haplotypes was found in each country investigated, except Svalbard, Norway. While the haplotypes from Svalbard were markedly different from all the others, mainland Europe appeared to be dominated by two main clusters, represented by most western, central and eastern European countries, and the Baltic countries and northeastern Poland, respectively. Moreover, one Asian-like haplotype was identified in Latvia and northeastern Poland. To better elucidate the presence of Asian genetic variants of E. multilocularis in Europe, and to obtain a more comprehensive Europe-wide coverage, further studies, including samples from endemic regions not investigated in the present study, especially some eastern European countries, are needed. Further, the present work proposes historical causes that may have contributed to shaping the current genetic variability of E. multilocularis in Europe., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is one of the most widespread zoonoses in Mediterranean countries. Baiting not-owned dogs with praziquantel (PZQ), due to their key role in the maintaining the transmission of CE, currently appears to be the most effective way to limit the transmission of CE, as well as an important aspect to introduce for the control of this parasitic disease. Therefore, this study aims to test 3 types of PZQ-based baits by evaluating different parameters (integrity over time, attractiveness and palatability for dogs, and mechanical resistance after release to different altitudes) and the bait acceptance in field by target animals, i.e. not-owned dogs, by using camera traps. The double PZQ-laced baits (with a double layer of highly palatable chews) showed the greatest resistance in the environment while also preserving the attractiveness and palatability up to 10 days, also withstood heights of 25 m, thus resulting as the most suitable also for drone delivery. The results on the field showed that most of the baits were consumed by not-owned dogs (82.2%), while the remaining were consumed by wild boars (8.9%), foxes (6.7%), badgers (1.1%) and hedgehogs (1.1%), confirming the specific and high attractiveness of the double PZQ-laced baits for the target population and highlights how an anthelmintic baiting programme may be a viable tool for the management of E. granulosus among free-ranging dog populations in endemic rural areas.

Echinococcus granulosus is a zoonotic parasite infects many livestock species, especially cattle, sheep, goat and buffalo, causing cystic echinococcosis. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of the parasite and parasitic tissue damage histopathologically and to determine the role of oxidative stress in the tissue damage through the immunohistochemical detection of the oxidative damage-marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and the antioxidant response-marker superoxide dismutase (SOD). The material of the study consisted of 20 liver samples with Echinococcus cysts and 10 E.granulosus- negative healthy liver samples obtained from different cattle at various times from slaughterhouses in Kırıkkale province, Turkey. Histopathologically, Echinococcus cysts of various sizes were observed along with the surrounding fibrous connective tissue. Giant cells, mononuclear cells, and eosinophilic leukocytes were found between the fibrous connective tissue and the cyst. In the parenchymal tissue distant from the cyst, inflammatory changes were observed, including vacuolation and necrosis in hepatocytes, congestion and dilation sinusoidal capillaries. Immunohistochemically, MDA immunopositivity was observed in both hepatocytes surrounding the cyst and areas distant from the cyst, while SOD immunopositivity was mainly detected in fibrous connective tissue and hepatocytes surrounding the Echinococcus cysts. A significant increase in MDA immunoreactivity was observed in E.granulosus s.l.-infected livers. Although no statistically significant change was observed in SOD immunopositivity in the liver tissues with cystic echinococcosis, regional variations were noted. Germinal layer (GL) of Echinococcus cyst showed immunopositive staining for MDA, while laminated layer (LL) exhibited immunonegative staining. To the authors' best understanding, this study represents a pioneering effort in showcasing and evaluating the immunoreactivities of MDA and SOD within the liver tissue afflicted with Echinococcus cysts. Simultaneously, the examination extends to encompass tissue damage and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. This study highlights the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) and the need for further investigation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and their regional variations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a neglected zoonosis still threatening public health worldwide. In Italy different epidemiological scenarios were reported depending on the geographical area and associated socio-economic activities. Although in northern Italy the occurrence of E. granulosus is considered sporadic, in the southern regions and, particularly in Sardinia, CE prevalence reaches high levels. We analysed CE cysts collected from infected sheep from various areas of mainland Italy and the Sardinia island, with the main objective to investigate intergenotypic and intragenotypic variations at national level. CE cysts were collected from slaughtered sheep following post mortem inspection at local abattoirs. Total genomic DNA was extracted and amplification and sequencing of the partial mitochondrial genes nad5 and cox1 were performed. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree was estimated on a nad5 dataset (n = 260) composed of E. granulosus samples from this study (n = 126) and all the nad5 haplotypes available in GenBank (n = 134). In addition, haplotype network, diversity and neutrality analysis were performed on nad5 and cox1 sequences of Italian origin obtained in this study. E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was found to be the only Echinococcus species infecting sheep in Italy, mainly represented by G1 genotype (76 %) and, to a lower extent, by G3 genotype (24 %). Phylogenetic analyses revealed 40 nad5 and 33 cox 1 haplotypes, and the presence of two founder haplotypes, belonging to G1 and G3 genotype, showing 100 % similarity with DNA sequences from different geographic regions. The lack of geographical segregation, high haplotype and low nucleotide diversity coupled with significant negative values of Tajima's D and Fu's Fs observed in this study indicated high genetic variation and demographic expansion of E. granulosus s.s. in Italy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. This study determined the genotype and haplotype differences using the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene in hydatid cyst samples. Human (n = 12), cattle (n = 28), and sheep (n = 31) hydatid cyst isolates were included. Seventy-one genomic DNA samples were successfully extracted, and a 759 bp mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene fragment was amplified by PCR. Following the sequence analysis, E. granulosus sensu stricto isolates were identified as G1 (n = 61) and G3 (n = 10). A total of 23 haplotypes were obtained from the 71 E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 samples. The main haplotype was Hap01 (60.56 %), which consisted of the G1 genotype. The second largest haplotype was Hap04, which consisted entirely of the G3 genotype. Hap14 acted as a bridge between the G1 and G3 genotypes. This study identifies G1 as the dominant genotype in humans and farm animals in Turkey. High haplotype and nucleotide diversity in genotypes were observed. Additionally, this is the first report on the phylogeography and gene flow models of the E. granulosus s.s. population in Turkey using the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene, the best marker distinguishing between G1 and G3 genotypes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is an important zoonotic disease. Yili Prefecture in Xinjiang is endemic for AE, however the molecular variability of E. multilocularis in this region is poorly understood. In this study, 127 samples were used for haplotypes analysis, including 79 tissues from humans, 43 liver tissues from small rodents, and 5 fecal samples from dogs. Genetic variability in E. multilocularis was studied using complete sequences of the mitochondrial (mt) genes of cytochrome b (cob), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (nad2), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), using a total of 3558 bp per sample. The Asia haplotype 2 (A2) was the dominant haplotype, with 72.15% (57/79) prevalence in humans, 2.33% (1/43) in small rodents, and 80.00% (4/5) in dogs, followed by A5, the second most common haplotype, which infected 27.91% (12/43) small rodents. Haplotype network analysis showed that all haplotypes clustered together with the Asian group. Pairwise fixation index (F ST ) values showed lower level of genetic differentiation between different regions within the country. Compared with the sequences of E. multilocularis from North America and Europe, all concatenated sequences isolated from Yili Prefecture were highly differentiated and formed a single population. The A2 haplotype, analyzed using the cob, nad2, and cox1 genes of E. multilocularis, is the predominant variant in humans and dogs in Yili Prefecture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and manuscript is approved by all authors for publication. I would like to declare on behalf of my co-authors that the work described was original research that has not been published previously, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. All the authors listed have approved the manuscript that is enclosed., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a grievous zoonotic parasitic disease. Currently, the traditional technology of screening CE is laborious and expensive, developing an innovative technology is urgent. In this study, we combined serum fluorescence spectroscopy with machine learning algorithms to develop an innovative screening technique to diagnose CE in sheep. Serum fluorescence spectra of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto-infected group (n = 63) and uninfected E. granulosus s.s. group (n = 60) under excitation at 405 nm were recorded. The linear support vector machine (Linear SVM), Quadratic SVM, medium radial basis function (RBF) SVM, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) were used to analyze the spectra data. The results showed that Quadratic SVM had the great classification capacity, its sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 85.0%, 93.8%, and 88.9%, respectively. In short, serum fluorescence spectroscopy combined with Quadratic SVM algorithm has great potential in the innovative diagnosis of CE in sheep., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The etiological agents of zoonotic cystic echinococcosis comprise the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) species complex. The present study was aimed at investigating the zoonotic genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus s.l. circulating in the pig population of Haryana, India. Out of 253 slaughtered pigs screened, 5 showed the presence of hydatid cysts. The amplification of the partial mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) gene for the molecular confirmation and phylogenetics of the retrieved metacestodes (n = 2) revealed the presence of E. ortleppi. The sequences generated herein exhibited 99.80% homology to the GenBank archived E. ortleppi sequences. Cladistics targeting genetic diversity and haplotype network analysis involved 37 E. granulosus s.l. GenBank archived sequences from India corresponding to different hosts (large and small ruminants and humans) along with the sequences (n = 2) generated in the present study. Overall, 14 haplotypes with high haplotype (0.780 ± 0.059) and low nucleotide (0.033 ± 0.010) diversities were recorded for the overall data set, which evinced a population expansion. The median-joining haplotype network revealed a stellate shape of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) sequences, which was indicative of rapid population expansion. High genetic differentiation (F ST  = 0.840 - 0.983) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.003 - 0.047) were recorded between the pig intermediate hosts infected with E. ortleppi and other hosts infected with E. granulosus s.s. The findings are of paramount significance for the formulation of effective control strategies considering the public health and economic impact of cystic echinococcosis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) as a prevalent tapeworm infection of human and herbivorous animals worldwide, is caused by accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus eggs excreted from infected dogs. CE is endemic in the Middle East and North Africa, and is considered as an important parasitic zoonosis in Iran. It is transmitted between dogs as the primary definitive host and different livestock species as the intermediate hosts. One of the most important measures for CE control is dog deworming with praziquantel. Due to the frequent reinfection of dogs, intensive deworming campaigns are critical for breaking CE transmission. Dog reinfection rate could be used as an indicator of the intensity of local CE transmission in endemic areas. However, our knowledge on the extent of reinfection in the endemic regions is poor. The purpose of the present study was to determine E. granulosus reinfection rate after praziquantel administration in a population of owned dogs in Kerman, Iran. A cohort of 150 owned dogs was recruited, with stool samples collected before praziquantel administration as a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg. The re-samplings of the owned dogs were performed at 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration. Stool samples were examined microscopically using Willis flotation method. Genomic DNA was extracted, and E. granulosus sensu lato-specific primers were used to PCR-amplify a 133-bp fragment of a repeat unit of the parasite genome. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method to calculate cumulative survival rates, which is used here to capture reinfection dynamics, and monthly incidence of infection, capturing also the spatial distribution of disease risk. Results of survival analysis showed 8, 12 and 17% total reinfection rates in 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration, respectively, indicating that 92, 88 and 83% of the dogs had no detectable infection in that same time periods. The monthly incidence of reinfection in total owned dog population was estimated at 1.5% (95% CI 1.0-2.1). The results showed that the prevalence of echinococcosis in owned dogs, using copro-PCR assay was 42.6%. However, using conventional microscopy, 8% of fecal samples were positive for taeniid eggs. Our results suggest that regular treatment of the dog population with praziquantel every 60 days is ideal, however the frequency of dog dosing faces major logistics and cost challenges, threatening the sustainability of control programs. Understanding the nature and extent of dog reinfection in the endemic areas is essential for successful implementation of control programs and understanding patterns of CE transmission., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Borhani et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Cystic echinococcosis is caused by the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. There has been ongoing controversy over whether it causes weight loss in cattle. Recently implemented recording of comorbidities at processors has provided opportunity to investigate this effect. Using prevalence-based observational data from 1,648,049 adult cattle processed in seven states and territories in Australia (2019-2022), we explored associations between carcase weight, hydatid cysts, comorbidities, sex, age, and region. Linear mixed-effect regression models estimated the effect of cystic echinococcosis on carcase weight, guided by directed acyclic graphs to reduce bias. The highest, previously unreported, prevalence was in the southeast Queensland region. The estimated effect of cystic echinococcosis cysts on carcase weight ranged from a gain of 0.32 kg/carcase (standard error [se] 0.58 kg; two-tooth 2022) to a loss of -5.45 kg/carcase (se 0.63 kg; six-tooth 2019) with most point estimates (11/16) between 0 and -2.5 kg across all cattle grouped by year and dentition. This effect size would be practically undetectable in live cattle which is an important finding; cattle producers are unlikely to observe increased productivity through weight gain from cystic echinococcosis prevention in cattle, and awareness to strengthen prevention in domestic dogs around cattle properties to reduce human risk remains a public health focus., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To analyze the echinococcosis surveillance results in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2022, so as to provide insights into formulation of echinococcosis control measures in the prefecture., Methods: Villagers were randomly sampled using a multistage sampling method from class I and II echinococcosis endemic counties in Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022 for detection of human echinococcosis, while all patients undergoing ultrasound examinations in medical institutions in class III endemic counties received active echinococcosis screening. In addition, livestock in centralized slaughterhouses or slaughtering sites were screened for echinococcosis using the palpation and necropsy method, and fresh domestic dog feces samples were collected from randomly selected dog owners in each administrative village for detection of Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs. The trends in detection of human and livestock echinococcosis, detection of newly diagnosed human echinococcosis cases and detection of Echinococcus coproantigen in domestic dogs were analyzed in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022., Results: The mean detection rate of human echinococcosis was 0.13% (540/407 803) in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture from 2017 to 2022, which appeared a tendency towards a decline over years (χ 2 trend = 1 217.21, P < 0.001), and the highest detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases was seen in Hejing County (0.28%, 191/67 865). The detection of livestock echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2017 to 2022 (χ 2 trend = 147.02, P < 0.001), with the highest detection rate seen in Hejing County (3.44%, 86/2 500), and the detection of Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs appeared a tendency towards a decline over years from 2017 to 2022 (χ 2 trend = 302.46, P < 0.001), with the highest detection rate in Qiemo County (2.74%, 118/4 313)., Conclusions: The detection of human and livestock echinococcosis and dog feces antigens Echinococcus copro-antigen in domestic dogs all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2022; however, there is still a high echinococcosis transmission risk in local areas. Sustainable integrated echinococcosis control is required in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.

Background: Endemic domestic dog-ruminant cycles and human cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus have been sporadically reported in the United States. However, there is a paucity of molecular data describing the genotypes and haplotypes of this important cestode in domestic ruminant hosts., Methods: Ninety-four cysts from the lungs and/or livers of slaughtered beef cattle (76 samples), dairy cows (five samples) and sheep (13 samples) were collected from abattoirs in four states of the USA. Samples were genotyped at two mitochondrial loci, cox1 and nad5. Sequences were used to determine species, genotypes and haplotypes using median joining networks and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Cyst fertility was assessed in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Additionally, previously reported autochthonous E. granulosus infections in the USA in various hosts were mapped., Results: Based on cox1 sequences obtained from 94 cysts, 89 (94.7%) were identified as E. granulosus G1/G3, while five (5.3%) were Taenia hydatigena. Taenia hydatigena were only isolated from sheep. Based on nad5 sequences obtained from 89 hydatid cysts, 96.6% and 3.4% belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto genotypes G1 and G3 respectively. Two haplotypes were found among E. granulosus cox1 sequences, neither of which was geographically unique. Six haplotypes were found among nad5 sequences in genotype G1, of which five were novel, while one haplotype was found in genotype G3. In the concatenated cox1-nad5 dataset, seven haplotypes were identified, of which six were geographically unique. All cysts from cattle were non-fertile. Four cysts from sheep were fertile., Conclusions: All genotyped samples belonged to E. granulosus s.s. This is the first study to our knowledge to confirm the presence of genotypes G1 and G3 in domestic cattle and sheep intermediate hosts in the USA and provide data for future diagnostic and epidemiological studies. Sequences have been deposited in GenBank (cox1 sequences: OR398494-OR398496, nad5 sequences: OR400695-OR400702)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus. The disease has significant health and economic impacts worldwide, particularly in endemic areas. The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hydatid cysts in ruminants (cattle and sheep) (n = 2060) from the Setif Province of Algeria using microscopy. The results showed that hydatid cysts were detected in 9.6% (198/2060) of ruminants, with a higher prevalence in cattle (16.8%; 56/333) compared to sheep (8.2%; 142/1727). Molecular techniques were used to analyze a subset of animals consisting of 30 sheep and 4 cattle. Specifically, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mt-CO1) gene was sequenced and compared to sequences from seven humans from the same region. The results indicated that all isolates were identified as E. granulosus sensu stricto. Haplotype analysis identified 19 E. granulosus s.s. haplotypes arranged like a star, with the dominant haplotype (Hap04) at the center. Hap04 has been assigned a total of 17 positives, including positives from sheep, cattle, and two humans. This study is noteworthy for being the first to use a molecular approach to human and ruminant echinococcosis in Setif, a significant breeding region in Algeria., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, affecting dogs as accidental intermediate hosts. CT is increasingly used for abdominal imaging in small animals, providing valuable information, particularly for large masses and limited ultrasound accessibility. This study describes CT findings of hepatic lesions in 13 dogs with AE. All cases displayed well-defined cavitary lesions in the liver. Lesions showed minimal to no contrast uptake in the periphery, no uptake centrally, irregular internal walls, and soft tissue septa. Eight of 13 cases exhibited large cavitary masses (mean diameter 18.7 cm) with thick walls and feathery mineralization. Three of 13 cases had multiple smaller cavitary lesions with thin walls and without mineralization (mean diameter 8.4 cm). Two of 13 cases presented with both lesion types. These findings suggest two typical CT appearances correlated with AE: large thick-walled- and smaller thin-walled lesions. These groups may represent different stages of AE, with smaller lesions merging and progressing into larger ones. In conclusion, CT provides valuable information in evaluating hepatic lesions in dogs with AE. Large cavitary, thick-walled liver lesions with feathery wall mineralization, irregular inner margination, septation, and no central contrast uptake strongly indicate hepatic AE in dogs, differentiating it from other masses., (© 2024 American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), which is triggered by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus , is a global zoonotic disease that is common in rural regions in which there are frequent encounters between dogs and other domestic animals. The disease can have devastating consequences, impacting the health of people and animals and leading to huge financial losses, especially in the agricultural industry. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Egypt, despite the high incidence of disease, few investigations have been conducted into the genetic variation in species of the genus Echinococcus ., Aim: This study sought to compare the genetic features of the hydatid cysts carried in sheep in KSA with those found in Egypt., Methods: DNA from the protoscolices was used in a PCR targeting the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 ( NAD1 ), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( COX1 ), and nuclear actin II ( ACT II ) genes, and the resulting amplification products of 30 KSA and Egyptian isolates were sequenced and compared., Results: Among the sheep in KSA, the overall prevalence of CE was 0.51%. Of the sheep cyst DNA samples, 95%, 100%, and 52% were positive for the Cox1, nad1 , and act II genes, respectively. Targeting all three genes, all KSA samples belonged to the E. granulosus genotype (G1), whereas all Egyptian isolates belonged to E. granulosus (G1) and E. canadensis (G6)., Conclusion: We conclude that isolates of E. granulosus from the two countries shared a common origin in Arabic North Africa, with sheep and camels as common hosts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source in Sichuan Province from 2010 to 2022, so as to provide insights into formulation of future control interventions., Methods: Data pertaining to comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source and echinococcosis surveillance in Sichuan Province from 2010 to 2022 were collected. The effectiveness of comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source was evaluated with prevalence of human echinococcosis, detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis patients, prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs, prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock, prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals and awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis., Results: The prevalence of human echinococcosis reduced from 1.08% in 2010 to 0.40% in 2022 in Sichuan Province (χ 2 = 1 482.97, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 0.30% to 0.02% in the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases (χ 2 = 2 776.41, P < 0.05), a reduction from 15.87% to 0.46% in the prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs (χ 2 = 20 823.96, P < 0.05), a reduction from 8.05% to 1.07% in the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock (χ 2 = 1 296.02, P < 0.05), and the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge increased from 50.65% to 95.24% (χ 2 = 34 938.63, P < 0.05); in addition, there was a year-specific prevalence rate of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals (χ 2 = 164.07, P < 0.05). Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that the detection of newly diagnosed echinococcosis cases correlated positively with the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in domestic dogs ( r s = 0.823, P < 0.05) and the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock ( r s = 0.795, P < 0.05), and correlated negatively with the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge ( r s = - 0.918, P < 0.05), and the prevalence of Echinococcus infection in domestic dogs correlated positively with the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in livestock ( r s = 0.753, P < 0.05) and negatively with the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge ( r s = -0.747, P < 0.05); however, there was no correlation between the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in domestic dogs and the prevalence of alveolar echinococcosis in small mammals ( r s = -0.750, P > 0.05)., Conclusions: The comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source had achieved remarkable effectiveness in Sichuan Province; however, the transmission chain of echinococcosis has not been interrupted. Reinforced comprehensive echinococcosis control measures with emphasis on management of infectious source and sustained tracking evaluation of the effectiveness are recommended in Sichuan Province.

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (E. granulosus s.l.) is a zoonotic parasite, causing cystic echinococcosis in humans. In the present study, prevalence and genotypes of E. granulosus s.l. was assessed in stools collected from 244 dogs including 138 stray and 106 domestic animals using high resolution melting curve (HRM) method. Initially, to detect taeniid eggs in feces, all samples were examined using the formalin-ether techniques. Genomic DNA was extracted from the positive samples and E. granulosus s.l. was differentiated from other Taeniidae parasites using SSU-rDNA gene and E. granulosus s.l. was analyzed for genotyping using HRM based on the cox1 gene. In total, 12.7% (31/244) of the samples were positive for Taeniidae eggs. In addition, among the positive samples, 77.4% (24/31) were positive for E. granulosus s.l.. In details, 11.3% (12/106) of the domestic dogs and 8.7% (12/138) of the stray dogs were positive for E. granulosus s.l.. The results of HRM analysis showed that all E. granulosus s.l. isolates were G1 strain. Findings of the present study indicated a considerable prevalence of E. granulosus G1 among dogs in the northeast of Iran and imply a serious risk of transmitting to humans and livestock., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests related to this research., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, so as to provide insights into echinococcosis control., Methods: Administrative villages were sampled using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method from Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, and all residents at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled villages were screened for echinococcosis, and schools were sampled using a cluster sampling method, and all children at ages of 12 years and older in the sampled schools were screened for echinococcosis. Domestic dogs were sampled using a systematic random sampling method, and one domestic dog stool sample was collected from each household. Stray dog stool samples were collected outside the villages, and Echinococcus coproantigens were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in domestic and stray dogs. In addition, echinococcosis was screened in sheep and cattle in designated slaughterhouses in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County. The trends in the prevalence of echinococcosis in humans and livestock and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs were examined with the Cochran-Armitage trend test. In addition, individuals screened for echinococcosis were randomly sampled from 2007 to 2022 for survey on the awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge., Results: A total of 290 356 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among residents at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 094 residents detected with cystic echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ 2 = 358.602, P < 0.001). A total of 32 931 person-times were screened for echinococcosis among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 296 children detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a gradual decline over years (χ 2 = 267.673, P < 0.001). A total of 33 230 domestic dog stool samples were tested for Echinococcus coproantigens in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2007 to 2022, with 1 777 Echinococcus coproantigens-positive samples tested, and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens appeared a tendency towards a decline in domestic dogs over years (χ 2 = 2 210.428, P < 0.001), while the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens showed a tendency towards a rise in domestic animals from 2016 to 2022 (χ 2 = 37.745, P < 0.001). The positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens remained relatively stable in stray dogs in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province from 2019 to 2022 (χ 2 = 0.315, P = 0.575). A total of 10 973 sheep were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2007 to 2022, with 334 sheep detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline in sheep over years (χ 2 = 53.579, P < 0.001); however, there was no significant change in the detection of echinococcosis during the period from 2015 through 2022 (χ 2 = 1.520, P = 0.218). A total of 2 400 cattle were screened for echinococcosis in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County from 2017 to 2022, with 231 cattle detected with echinococcosis, and the detection of echinococcosis showed a tendency towards a decline over years (χ 2 = 5.579, P < 0.05). The awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge increased from 44.37% in 2007 to 94.00% in 2022 among residents at ages of 12 years and older and from 52.50% in 2007 to 92.50% in 2022 among children at ages of 12 years and older in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, respectively., Conclusions: There has been a reduction in the detection of echinococcosis in humans and domestic animals and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigens in dogs and a rise in the awareness of the echinococcosis control knowledge following the implementation of the central government-funded echinococcosis control programme in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province; however, integrated echinococcosis control measures are still required for further control of the prevalence of echinococcosis.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected zoonotic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), the life cycle of which involves multiple hosts. We conducted a systematic review (SR) on E. granulosus s.l. in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA), to provide a picture of its recent epidemiology across all hosts., Methods: For this SR, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, five electronic databases, as well experts in the region were consulted to retrieve records published between 2000 and 2022, reporting the presence of E. granulosus s.l. infections in any natural host in the GHA (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda)., Principal Findings: A total of 247 records were retained, describing the presence of E. granulosus s.l. throughout the GHA, except for Djibouti. Only few population surveys on human CE were conducted in the area, with the prevalence ranging between 0.3 and 11.3%. In animals, the reported prevalence ranged up to 61.6% in camels, 88.4% in cattle; 65.2% in goats, 9.9% in pigs, 67.8% in sheep and 94.5% in dogs. In addition, E. granulosus s.l. was also reported in wildlife. A total of five species were reported in the different hosts, namely E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1, G3, GOmo), E. canadensis (G6/7), E. ortleppi (G5), E. felidis, and E. equinus (G4)., Conclusions: We confirm that E. granulosus s.l. is prevalent throughout the GHA. Nevertheless, despite our efforts to screen grey literature, an accurate assessment of the epidemiology in GHA remains challenging, due to the lack of combined host, in-depth risk factor and behavioural studies, as well as the wide diversity in subpopulations studied and diagnostic tools used. Interdisciplinary and transboundary partnerships would be essential for the design of effective control strategies, tuned to the GHA setting., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Aregawi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)