[Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the Poznan region in the years 1990-2000].

The results of multidisciplinary studies on cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Poznan region, Poland carried out in 1990-2000, in co-operation with CDC, Atlanta GA, USA, are summarised as follows. The distinct focality of Echinococcus granulosus (Eg) infections has been demonstrated on some private farms rearing pigs (refs 12, 13). A reduction in Eg prevalence rates in pigs has been achieved, from 13.0% in 1989 down to 0.5% in 1998. This was an effect of various factors, including free treatment of all dogs in the Eg foci, i.e. farms, supplying infected pigs (ref. 13). The experimental studies confirmed, that pig's strain of Eg has some distinct characteristics, in comparison with the other Eg strains (ref. 8). It also had a separate genotype, classified as G7 (G9) (refs 9, 10). It has been demonstrated, that pig's strain was the only one found in 16 patients with CE, hospitalised in the Clinic of Parasitic and Tropical Diseases in Poznan, Poland (refs 9, 10) The same genotype in pigs was found in Slovakia and Ukraine (ref. 10). In clinical research the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been introduced in the doubtful cases and confirmed to be a safe and useful diagnostic technique (ref. 11). The FNAB material was examined for Eg protoscolices as well as for the presence of antigen 5 (ref. 24). Studies with intradermal Multiest suggested, that development of Eg cysts depend much on immune system, especially a switch between Th1 and Th2 (ref. 19). It has been observed that FNAB may have a beneficial effect on treatment of CE with albendazole, which can be reduced to 1 month only in the patients treated after FNAB (refs 11, 25, 26). The studies carried out were a basis for one habilitation (ref. 11) and 3 MD dissertations (13, 19, 23).