Meta-analysis of the prevalence of Echinococcus in dogs in China from 2010 to 2019

Gong, Q. L. and Ge, G. Y. and Wang, Q. and Tian, T. and Liu, F. and Diao, N. C. and Nie, L. B. and Zong, Y. and Li, J. M. and Shi, K. and Leng, X. and Du, R.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis (2021) 15: e0009268

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009268

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis (canine Echinococcus disease) is a neglected tropical disease that causes serious public harm. Dogs, as a terminal host of Echinococcus spp., are a key part of the Echinococcus epidemic. Echinococcosis spreads easily in humans and animals in some areas of China and it is therefore necessary to fully understand the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in dogs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Chongqing VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases were searched for relevant articles published in the past 10 years. A final total of 108 studies were included. The overall prevalence of Echinococcus spp. in dogs in China was 7.3%, with the highest point estimate found in sampling year 2015 (8.2%) and publication year 2015 (16.5%). Northwestern China (7.9%) had the highest infection rate in China. Qinghai Province (13.5%) showed the highest prevalence among the 11 provinces we included. We also found that geographical and climatic factors are related to the incidence of canine echinococcosis. We further investigated the source of heterogeneity by analysis of subgroups (sampling district, detection method, dog type, season, parasite species, medication, and study quality level). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our research indicated that Echinococcus spp. were still prevalent in some areas in China. More localized prevention and control policies should be formulated, including improving drinking water hygiene and strengthening hygiene promotion. We recommend the rational use of anti-Echinococcus drugs. In addition, treatment of livestock offal and feces and improving the welfare of stray dogs may play an important role in reducing canine Echinococcus infections.

Citation

Gong, Q. L., Ge, G. Y., Wang, Q., Tian, T., Liu, F., Diao, N. C., Nie, L. B., Zong, Y., Li, J. M., Shi, K., Leng, X., & Du, R. (2021). Meta-analysis of the prevalence of Echinococcus in dogs in China from 2010 to 2019. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 15(4), e0009268. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009268 China, dogs, meta-analysis, Pets and Companion Animals [LL070], disease prevalence, epidemiology, helminthoses, helminths, infections, parasites, parasitoses, risk factors, detection, cestode infections, incidence, stray animals, strays, climatic factors, parasitic diseases, parasitic infestations, parasitosis, People’s Republic of China, Protozoan, Helminth, Mollusc and Arthropod Parasites of Animals [LL822], drinking water, parasitic worms, faeces, feces, Chongqing, Chongqing Shi, Cestoda, echinococcosis, Echinococcus, hydatid disease, hydatidosis, tropical diseases, Chinghai, epidemics, Qinghai

Keywords

• China
• dogs
• meta-analysis
• Pets and Companion Animals [LL070]
• disease prevalence
• epidemiology
• helminthoses
• helminths
• infections
• parasites
• parasitoses
• risk factors
• detection
• cestode infections
• incidence
• stray animals
• strays
• climatic factors
• parasitic diseases
• parasitic infestations
• parasitosis
• People’s Republic of China
• Protozoan
• Helminth
• Mollusc and Arthropod Parasites of Animals [LL822]
• drinking water
• parasitic worms
• faeces
• feces
• Chongqing
• Chongqing Shi
• Cestoda
• echinococcosis
• Echinococcus
• hydatid disease
• hydatidosis
• tropical diseases
• Chinghai
• epidemics
• Qinghai