Human infections with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Kyrgyzstan: the tip of the iceberg?

J Parasitol. 2011 Dec;97(6):1170-2. doi: 10.1645/GE-2828.1. Epub 2011 Jul 7.

Abstract

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

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dicrocoeliasis / diagnosis
  • Dicrocoeliasis / epidemiology*
  • Dicrocoelium / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kyrgyzstan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Ruminants / parasitology
  • Zoonoses