Human Infections with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Kyrgyzstan: The Tip of the Iceberg?

• DOI: 10.1645/ge-2828.1
• Publication Date: 2011-12-28T13:50:06Z
• Authors: Aurelie Jeandron; Laura Rinaldi; Gulnara Abdyldaieva; Jumagul Usubalieva; Peter Steinmann; Giuseppe Cringoli; Jürg Utzinger
• Keywords: Zoonosis; Animal Husbandry

Dicrocoelium dendriticum is the causative agent of a rare food-borne zoonosis human biliary tract, dicrocoeliasis, for which few prevalence data are available. Infection occurs through ingestion ants containing metacercariae, whereas pseudo-infections (presence D. eggs in stool absence adult worms) due to consumption infected animal liver. Here, results from cross-sectional survey carried out among 138 children aged 2-15 yr peri-urban area Kyrgyzstan reported. Each child provided 1 sample that was subjected FLOTAC technique. Eggs were diagnosed 11 (prevalence 8.0%; 95% confidence interval 4.5-13.7%). Although no distinction could be made between true and pseudo-infections, prevailing husbandry system diet hygienic conditions study suggest social-ecological conducive transmission dendriticum. There need investigate epidemiology dicrocoeliasis Kyrgyzstan, placing emphasis on pseudo-infections.