Investigation of the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis between 2015-2022

Abstract

In this study, serum samples of 1811 patients who applied to the parasitology laboratory of our hospital between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2022 with preliminary diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis were investigated. It was aimed to evaluate the demographic data of the patients as well as the cystic echinococcosis seropositivity by year. The results of 1811 serum samples were analyzed retrospectively by ELI.H.A Echinococcus ELITech (MICROBIO, France) test which is based on the indirect haemagglutination principle. A titer of less than 1:160 indicates the possible absence of hydatid cyst, a titer of 1:160 indicates a suspicious reaction, and a titer of 1:320 and above indicates a significant reaction in favor of progressive hydatidosis. Seropositivity was detected in a total of 519 patients. Of the patients who were found to be positive, 341 were women and 178 were men. 
 The highest positivity rate was found in patients over 50 years of age (29.3%), followed by the 20-30 age group (23.1%) and the 30-40 age group (22.9%), respectively.
 While 232 of the admitted patients were Syrians, 1532 patients were Turkish citizens. The positivity rate in Syrian patients was determined to be 41.8%, (n=100) while this rate was determined to be 26.7%(n=419)in Turkish patients. Despite the developments in the socioeconomic field, the investments of local governments in sanitation and the establishment of single health awareness, cystic echinococcosis continues to exist as an important public health problem in our province due to both the effect of migration and the inability to reach the desired levels of personal hygiene.