Prevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis in Selected Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Districts of Uganda

Abstract
A cross sectional ultrasound screening survey for human cystic echinococcosis (CE) was undertaken in the pastoral dist ricts of Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat in Karamoja sub-region; and agro-pastoral communities of Teso region, in the districts of Kumi and Bukedea. Other areas of the survey included: Nakasongola in Central region and Kasese district in the Western region of Uganda. A total of 3,636 participants were screened and 67 cases (1.84%) had CE. The organ most affected was the liver 61.2% (41/67), followed by the kidney 17.9% (12/67), spleen 10.44% (7/67), omentum 8.95% 6/67) and lungs 1.5% (1/67). All districts screened had positive cases with the highest prevalence occurring in Napak (3.9%) and the lowest in Nakapiripirit (0.45%). The prevalence of CE (0.5±0.3%) in South Karamoja (Amudat and Nakapiripirit) was significantly lower (P<0.001, χ2= 18.98) than in Central Karamoja (Napak and Moroto, 3.32±1.3%). The prevalence of CE in Teso region was found to be 1.21±0.8%, Kasese 2.15±1.2 % and Nakasongola 2.7±1.3%. The prevalence in south Karamoja was lowest. Overall, there was no significant difference (P<0.05; χ2= 0.12) in prevalence between males (1.7%) and females (1.9%). However, in Karamoja females (2.2% CI: 0.8-3.6) were more likely to be infected (χ2= 16; P<0.05) with CE than males (0.9% CI: 0.1-1.7). Sixty four percent (n=43) of the cysts detected were viable.
Description
Keywords
Prevalence, Cystic echinococcosis, Ultrasound, Pastoral, Agropastoral, Uganda
Citation
Othieno E, Okwi A, Mupere E, Bimenya G, Zeyhle E, et al. (2016) Prevalence of Cystic Echinococcosis in Selected Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Districts of Uganda. Ann Clin Cytol Pathol 2(3): 1025.