Evaluation of Echinococcosis Pre-Diagnosis Patients Admitted to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratory of Turkey from 2014-2019

Banuçiçek  Yücesan; Cahit  Babür; Selçuk  Kılıç; Asiye Uğraş  Dikmen

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v17i2.9543

Banuçiçek Yücesan Department of Control of Zoonotic Disease, School of Health Sciences, University of Çankırı Karatekin, Cankiri, Turkey
Cahit Babür Department of National Parasitology Reference Laboratory, Public Health General Directotare of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
Selçuk Kılıç Department of Medical Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defense, Instıtute of Gulhane Health Scıences, Unıversıty of Health Scıences, Ankara, Turkey.
Asiye Uğraş Dikmen Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Unıversıty of Gazi, Ankara, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v17i2.9543

Keywords: Diagnosis, Echinococcosis; Western blot; Serology

Abstract

Background: Echinococcosis is a common parasite with zoonotic character created by a small cestode, Echinococcus spp., and is an important public health problem in Turkey as well as all over the world. We aimed to investigate antibodies in serum samples of suspected Echinococcosis patients sent to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratories of the General Directorate of Public Health.

Methods: Serum samples of 2390 patients sent to our laboratory between January 1, 2014 and May 01, 2019, evaluated by ELISA, Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA) and Western Blot (WB) methods are presented. Our laboratory is the national reference laboratory. All kinds of tests requested from suspected patients can be performed

Results: Overall, 1199 (50.2%) of 2390 serum samples were female and 1191 (49.8%) were male. It was observed that 178 (14.9%) of men and 210 (17.5%) of women were seropositive. There was no statistical difference between the sexes in terms of seropositivity. Of all samples, 1941 (81.2%) were negative, 388 (16.2%) were positive, and 61 (2.6%) were borderline. Results determined as borderline are considered suspicious and a recommendation is made to repeat the test after 15 days. A statistical difference was found in the distribution of seropositivity by years. While seropositivity was lowest in 2014, it was found to be highest in 2018 and 2019.

Conclusion: Despite all the precautions taken, it is seen that echinococcosis still continues to exist in Turkey as a zoonotic disease. Hence, CE has been involved in Turkey Zoonotic Diseases Action Plan (2019-2023) and decided to carry out studies for the protection and prevention of the disease.