Cystic echinococcosis in Central Anatolia, Turkey

Authors

• Suleyman Yazar, Department of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey. Tel. +90 (352) 4374937. Fax. +90 (352) 4375285. E-mail: syazar{at}erciyes.edu.tr
• Ozan Yaman, Departments of Parasitology
• Fevziye Cetinkaya, Public Health, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
• Izzet Sahin, Departments of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by infection with a larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus is a serious public health problem in Turkey. Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease; dogs and livestock are important hosts in transmission. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of CE in Kayseri Rural Area, Central Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: At the present study, we planned to evaluate the rate of CE in Kayseri rural area in Central Anatolia between 2000 and 2002. We investigated 2,242 subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA), and we examined the seropositivity by using Western blotting (WB). RESULTS: The seropositivity rate was 2.7% by ELISA and IFA. We retested seropositive serum samples and 200 seronegative sera by WB. Seropositive serum samples were studied using abdominal ultrasound and chest x-ray to confirmed the presence of hydatid cyst and we found 10 (0.5%) different localized cysts. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that Kayseri rural area has a high endemicity of human CE.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

205

Last Page

209

Recommended Citation

Yazar, Suleyman; Yaman, Ozan; Cetinkaya, Fevziye; and Sahin, Izzet (2006) "Cystic echinococcosis in Central Anatolia, Turkey," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 27: Iss. 2, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.3312