Tabain I, Sviben M, Ljubin-Sternak S, Vilibić-Čavlek T, Mlinarić-Galinović G
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockeferellova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
J Helminthol. 2011 Jun;85(2):192-5. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X1000043X. Epub 2010 Aug 25.
Cystic liver disease (CLD), presenting with solitary or multiple cysts in the liver, is a common diagnosis today, primarily due to the frequent application of modern radiological methods. There is a wide range of possible causes. CLD of infective origin is usually caused by an echinococcal species. During the past three decades a number of cystic echinococcosis (CE) control programmes have led to a significant decrease in the incidence of human hydatidosis in some endemic areas. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of E. granulosus infection in Croatian patients with CLD. A total of 540 serum samples from patients with hepatic cysts detected by imaging methods were screened for the presence of E. granulosus IgG antibodies using semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Western blot technique was used as a confirmatory test for the CE diagnosis. The overall E. granulosus seroprevalence rate in patients with CLD was 3.9%. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence rate between male and female patients (P = 0.541). According to age groups, there was a significant difference in seropositivity among age groups (P = 0.002). The highest seroprevalence rate was detected in the youngest age group (up to 18 years), both in males and females (20% and 13%, respectively). This study indicates that CE still represents a public health problem in Croatia. Preventive measures should be used to control Echinococcus infections, including avoidance of contact with infected dogs, egg-contaminated soil or plants; control and treatment of dogs with antihelmintics; hand washing, improved sanitation and health education.
肝囊肿病（CLD）表现为肝脏出现单个或多个囊肿，如今是一种常见的诊断疾病，这主要归因于现代放射学方法的频繁应用。其可能病因众多。感染性起源的CLD通常由棘球绦虫属物种引起。在过去三十年里，一些囊型棘球蚴病（CE）控制项目已使某些流行地区人类包虫病的发病率显著下降。本研究的目的是确定克罗地亚CLD患者中细粒棘球绦虫感染的血清流行率。使用半定量酶联免疫吸附试验对通过成像方法检测出患有肝囊肿的患者的540份血清样本进行细粒棘球绦虫IgG抗体检测。采用蛋白质印迹技术作为CE诊断的确证试验。CLD患者中细粒棘球绦虫的总体血清流行率为3.9%。男性和女性患者的血清流行率无显著差异（P = 0.541）。按年龄组划分，各年龄组之间的血清阳性率存在显著差异（P = 0.002）。在最年轻的年龄组（18岁及以下）中，男性和女性的血清流行率最高（分别为20%和13%）。本研究表明，CE在克罗地亚仍是一个公共卫生问题。应采取预防措施来控制棘球绦虫感染，包括避免接触受感染的狗、被虫卵污染的土壤或植物；用驱虫药控制和治疗狗；洗手、改善环境卫生和开展健康教育。
