Investigation of the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in Gaziantep-Türkiye by ELI.H.A Echinococcus ELITech between 2015-2022

Authors : Ahmet Özkeklikçi, Osman Sezer Cirit

Pages : 91-96

Doi:10.23902/trkjnat.1366489

View : 25 | Download : 73

Publication Date : 2024-04-15

Article Type : Research

Abstract :In this study, 1811 serum samples of 1764 patients who applied to the parasitology laboratory of Gaziantep Dr. Ersin Arslan Training and Research Hospital between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2022 with preliminary diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) were investigated, in order to evaluate the demographic data of the patients and CE seropositivity on an annual base. 1811 serum samples were analyzed by ELI.H.A Echinococcus ELITech (MICROBIO, France) test which is based on the indirect haemagglutination principle. Seropositivity was detected in a total of 519 patients. Of the patients who were found to be positive, 341 were women and 178 were men. The highest positivity rate was found in patients over 50 years of age (29.3%), followed by the 20-30 age group (23.1%) and the 30-40 age group (22.9%), respectively. While 232 of the admitted patients with preliminary diagnosis of CE were Syrians, 1532 patients were Turkish citizens. The positivity rate in Syrian patients was determined to be 41.8%, (n=100) while this rate was 26.7% (n=419) in Turkish patients. Despite the developments in the socioeconomic field, the investments of local governments in sanitation and the establishment of single health awareness, CE continues to exist as an important public health problem in Gaziantep due to both the effect of migration and the inability to reach the desired levels of personal hygiene.
Keywords : cystic echinococcosis, indirect hemagglutination test, seropositivity, Gaziantep