Seroprevalence and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis in Central and North Kashmir, India

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a dreadful zoonotic neglected disease that affects public health globally. The infection is highly endemic in northern India (Kashmir valley). The present survey based study was done to know the seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis infection among residents of north and central Kashmir valley and to identify risk variables linked to this infection. In addition to collecting 462 serum samples (244 males and 218 females), a questionnaire was also filled out for each participant utilizing systematic random sampling from June to November 2019 in 16 villages and 6 districts. Using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, the samples were tested for immunoglobulin G. Of the 462 serum samples obtained, 33 (7.14 percent) were found to be positive. Results showed that age group, gender, contact with dogs, occupation, and literacy rate were significantly related with the rate of seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis infection in Central and North Kashmir. Statistics showed that the observations were significant (P< 0.05). Children, men, and those who were uneducated had considerably greater rates of seropositivity for this infection.