A retrospective study of human cystic echinococcosis in Basrah province, Iraq

Mohanad F. Abdulhameed, Ihab Habib, Suzan A. Al-Azizz, Ian Robertson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis with serious clinical burden and constitutes a challenge to public health in endemic areas worldwide. We performed a retrospective study to investigate the occurrence of CE in patients at six hospitals in Basrah province, Iraq. In the current study setting, data retrieval and validation of the quality of hospital records was very challenging considering the difficult situation Iraq is unfortunately facing. Hospitalization records were reviewed from January 2005 to December 2015. A total of 748 cases of human with CE were diagnosed and operated in Basrah hospitals, equivalent to an annual clinical incidence of approximately 4.5 cases per 100 000 people. Hospital records show that, cystic echinococcosis affected more females (61.2%) than males (38.8%). Descriptive review of recorded CE cases in the surveyed hospitals revealed that more cases were reported in the age group of 21–30 years than in the other age groups. Based on the reviewed recorded clinical reports, cysts were mainly found in the liver (46.3%) and lungs (28.1%) of the patients. Hospital reports demonstrate that females had more hepatic cysts (63.9%) than males (36.1%). This study found that CE continues to pose a threat to public health in Basrah, and there is a need for more epidemiological investigations of CE in humans in order to determine risk factors and the economic impact of the disease in this province of Iraq.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)130-133
Number of pages4
JournalActa Tropica
Volume178
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Basrah
  • Cystic echinococcosis
  • Echinococcus granulosus
  • Humans
  • Iraq

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • veterinary (miscalleneous)
  • Insect Science
  • Infectious Diseases

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