Abstract
BackgroundEchinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused echinococcus parasitizes, poseing a significant economic burden on both humans and animals. There are limited studies on echinococcosis in China, especially Xizang Autonomous Region, although the area is endemic area for echinococcosis. The study aimed to provide information for strategic prevention against this disease.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among the residents in Xizang Autonomous Region, China to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practices on endemicity of echinococcosis. A face-to-face survey was conducted to collect the data using a well-designed questionnaire. The contents included basic personal information, knowledge, attitudes and practices about echinococcosis, personal hygiene and behavior habits, dog feeding and whether they had received the information on echinococcosis, and so on. We surveyed 840 persons in practice. All data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7.2.ResultsOf the total particpants, 86.8% had a primary education level or below (including primary and illiterate), and even 45.0% were illiterate. Farmers and herdsmen represent the main occupations in this study. People who know all the echinococcosis-related knowledge in the questionnaire only accounted for 8.7% of the participants. However, none of the participants was aware of routes of echinococcosis infection in human or dogs. The data showed participants with higher educational background had the high awareness rate of echinococcosis-related knowledge or attitudes (chi-square for trend, χ2 = 21.23, p<0.05 & χ2 = 48.43, p<0.05). In addition, The percentage of the participant with awareness of echinococcosis-related practices was associated with their age and principle occupation (χ2 = 52.72, p<0.05 & χ2 = 20.63, p<0.05).ConclusionsXizang Autonomous Region is an epidemic area of Echinococcosis. The prevalence of the disease has been largely due to the lack of knowledge, awareness, and poor hygiene practice in local residences. Therefore, effective disease prevention education and awareness campaigns in community will be significantly helpful in prevention and control of echinococcosis.
Highlights
Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused echinococcus parasitizes, poseing a significant economic burden on both humans and animals
Endemic areas are mainly located in the eastern Mediterranean, Western China, Southern and Eastern Europe, North Africa, the southern part of America, Siberia and Central Asia [3]
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is prevalent in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere countries, such as North America, continental Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, Japan and China [3]
Summary
Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused echinococcus parasitizes, poseing a significant economic burden on both humans and animals. Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by echinococcus parasitizes infection in humans (or animals). It seriously endangers people’s health and life safety, and affects social and economic development [1]. Endemic areas are mainly located in the eastern Mediterranean, Western China, Southern and Eastern Europe, North Africa, the southern part of America, Siberia and Central Asia [3]. AE is prevalent in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere countries, such as North America, continental Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, Japan and China [3]. Gansu, western Sichuan and the Tibetan Plateau in China are the most serious areas of alveolar echinococcosis in the world [4]
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