Surveillance for echinococcosis in Gansu, 2020−2024

Objective  To analyze the dynamic changes of echinococcosis prevalence in surveillance sites in Gansu province from 2020 to 2024 and provide evidence for future prevention and control efforts.

Methods  Surveillance data of echinococcosis in Gansu from 2020 to 2024 were collected for a descriptive analysis on the epidemiological characteristics of echinococcosis cases, surveillance results in local residents, surveillance results in schoolchildren, definitive host surveillance results, intermediate host surveillance results, as well as the awareness rate of knowledge about echinococcosis prevention and the prevalence of healthy behaviors in schoolchildren.

Results A total of 953 cases of echinococcosis were reported from 2020 to 2024, the male-to-female ratio of the cases was 1∶1.08 and the average age of the cases was 57.50 years (57.50±15.08). The cases were mainly reported in Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county in Wuwei (118 cases), Huanxian county in Qingyang (109 cases), Jingyuan county in Baiyin (56 cases), Shandan county in Zhangye (45 cases), and Dunhuang (41 cases). The majority of the cases were farmers (75.24%). A total of 631854 individuals were screened at the surveillance sites in Gansu, and 100 cases were detected. The overall detection rate showed a declining trend (χ²_trend= 40.053, P<0.05). In 243,033 schoolchildren screened, 1 case was detected, no significant difference in annual detection rates was found (P=0.763). The annual positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigen in domestic dogs varied significantly (χ²=46.459, P<0.05), showing a decrease then decrease trend (χ²_trend=15.787, P<0.05). The differences in annual coproantigen positive rate of Echinococcus in stray and wild canines showed significant difference (χ²=37.905, P<0.05), with an overall declining trend observed over time (χ²_trend=24.537, P<0.05). The annual prevalence of echinococcosis in livestock varied significantly (χ²=39.960, P<0.05), while the infection rate in rodents showed no significant difference (χ²=3.596, P=0.463). Significant differences were observed in annual awareness rate of knowledge about echinococcosis prevention in schoolchildren (χ²=2 558.703, P<0.05). In terms of healthy behaviors in schoolchildren, the prevalence rate of “contacting no dogs” was lowest, with an average of 63.79%, while that of “feeding no raw, diseased livestock viscera directly to dogs” was highest, with an average of 93.43%.

Conclusion From 2020 to 2024, the reported echinococcosis cases, the echinococcosis detection rate in local residents, and the positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigen in stray dogs and wild canines in Gansu showed declining trends. However, the fecal Echinococcus granulosus antigen positive rate in domestic dogs, livestock infection rate, the awareness of the knowledge about echinococcosis prevention and control and the prevalence rate of healthy behaviors in schoolchildren still exhibited fluctuations, with significant area specific difference. It is necessary to continuously implement comprehensive prevention and control measures to control the prevalence and ultimately interrupt the transmission of echinococcosis.