Geographical Environment Factors and Risk Mapping of Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Western China.

Duan Huang,Yubing Qu,Rendong Li,Ruixia Yuan,Juan Qiu,Yuanyuan Shi,Yingnan Niu,Xiangdong Sun

doi:10.3390/ijerph15081729

Abstract

The study aimed to reveal the risk factors and predict the prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Western China. To do this, we analyzed county-wide data relating to the prevalence of human CE in seven provinces of Western China, along with associated human, natural geographical environmental data. We then used spatial analysis and multiple regression analysis to investigate the correlation between the prevalence of human CE and associated environmental factors and to create a risk map of the disease in the seven provinces. Our analysis showed that grassland area ratio and Tibetan population ratio were independent variables positively correlated with the prevalence of human CE and that gross domestic product (GDP) and land surface temperature (LST; Spring) were negative independent variables. We also created a predictive risk map of human CE that revealed that the high-risk areas were mainly located in the south of Qinghai, the Northwest of Sichuan and most of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Knowledge of the spatial distribution and risk factors associated with human CE could help to prevent and control echinococcosis in China.

Highlights

Echinococcosis, referred to as hydatid disease, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that seriously endangers the health of humans and imposes a heavy financial burden on sick families [1,2,3]
The counties with the shown regions in Figure 2.ofThis map shows that areas with a high prevalence of the of disease are concentrated in the connected of Qinghai, Gansu, Chengduo, and Sichuan and in mostand of Tibet
This study investigated the prevalence and geographical environment factors associated with human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Western China where the prevention and control of this disease is a most urgent task

Summary

Introduction

Echinococcosis, referred to as hydatid disease, is a zoonotic parasitic disease that seriously endangers the health of humans and imposes a heavy financial burden on sick families [1,2,3]. Human echinococcosis is caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus [4,5]. Six forms of this tapeworm have been identified, and four of these represent a public health concern: Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, E. vogeli and E. oligarthrus, which cause cystic echinococcosis (CE), alveolar echinococcosis, polycystic echinococcosis and unicystic echinococcosis, respectively [6,7]. CE is one of the most common forms and is of significant relevance to humans from a medical and public health point of view [8]. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that CE is distributed globally, except for Antarctica [9]. More than one million people are affected by echinococcosis at any one time [9]

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