Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease endemic in southern and eastern European countries. The true prevalence of CE is difficult to estimate due to the high proportion of asymptomatic carriers who never seek medical attention and to the underreporting of diagnosed cases, factors which contribute to its neglected status. In an attempt to improve this situation, the European Register of Cystic Echinococcosis (ERCE), was launched in October 2014 in the context of the HERACLES project. ERCE is a prospective, observational, multicentre register of patients with probable or confirmed CE. The first ERCE meeting was held in November 2015 at the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanita, ISS) in Rome, to bring together CE experts currently involved in the Register activities, to share and discuss experiences, and future developments.Although the Register is still in its infancy, data collected at the time of writing this report, had outnumbered the total of national cases reported by the European endemic countries and published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in 2015. This confirms the need for an improved reporting system of CE at the European level. The collection of standardized clinical data and samples is expected to support a more rational, stage-specific approach to clinical management, and to help public authorities harmonize reporting of CE. A better understanding of CE burden in Europe will encourage the planning and implementation of public health policies toward its control.
Highlights
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic infection transmitted to humans through the ingestion of eggs of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (s.l.) shed in the faeces of dogs harbouring the parasite in the intestine
The real prevalence, incidence and burden of CE are difficult to estimate. This is due to the patchy distribution of CE within transmission areas, the high proportion of asymptomatic infected individuals and symptomatic patients living in resource-poor areas with logistical and/or economic constraints, who never reach medical attention, and the unknown effect of underreporting of diagnosed cases [5,6,7]
The main aims of HERACLES are to assess the prevalence of human abdominal CE through extended ultrasound surveys in endemic rural areas of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the endemic countries targeted for screening, to promote a stage-specific approach to clinical management through education activities directed at health care workers, and to improve serological and molecular diagnostic tools
Summary
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic infection transmitted to humans through the ingestion of eggs of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (sensu lato) (s.l.) shed in the faeces of dogs harbouring the parasite in the intestine. The main aims of HERACLES are to assess the prevalence of human abdominal CE through extended ultrasound surveys in endemic rural areas of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the endemic countries targeted for screening, to promote a stage-specific approach to clinical management through education activities directed at health care workers, and to improve serological and molecular diagnostic tools.
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