INCIDENCE OF ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN THE PLEVEN REGION OF BULGARIA IN THE PERIOD 1998-2017

Abstract

ntroduction. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitosis still encountered in Balkan countries. Bulgaria is a country with a high incidence of CE and ranks first among the countries of European Union. Objectives. The study aimed at analyzing the trends in CE incidence from 1998 to 2017 in the Pleven region of Bulgaria and of finding out if the implementation of the Bulgarian national program for control of cystic echinococcosis in humans and animals has resulted in the decrease of the disease rates. Methods. This study of echinococcosis in the Pleven region covers 20 years (1998–2017) and is divided into two parts: before and after the introduction of the 5-year program for control. Data were collected from epidemiological records and histories of 248 subjects with primary CE. Results. A high incidence was registered during the first studied period (1998 – 2007) – 5.27 o/oooo, which in 1999 reached 8.14 o/oooo. After implementation of the national program, the yearly incidence of hydatid disease showed a statistically significant decrease, reaching 2.42 o/oooo in 2017. The analysis of the data showed that the incidence was higher among working-age people and in the 5-19 years old age group. Conclusions. The persistence of a relatively high incidence in the young age group is a sign of continuing active transmission of the infection and demonstrates the necessity to continue active measures.

Keywords

• cystic echinococcosis
• echinococcus granulosus
• incidence