Prevalence of Human Cystic Echinococcosis: A Clinico-epidemiological Study in Northeast of Libya

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid cyst is the most important
zoonotic disease that causes significant economic losses and public
health problems worldwide. It is an endemic disease in the
Mediterranean area that has not yet been fully documented in eastern
Libya. This study was conducted to evaluate retrospectively 79 patients
diagnosed with the CE disease at three hospitals in Benghazi and the
main hospital in El-Beyda. Medical records were surveyed of infected
patients with CE who had been operating in four hospitals from 2000 till
end of 2002. Several parameters were studied, including age, sex, place
of habitation, and the location of cysts. Of the 79 cases, 60.2% (n=48),
39.8% (n=31) were female and male respectively, with the mean age of
46 years (1– 90). The most affected age group was 1-10 years old (30.4%
of the cases). A Single organ involvement was seen in the majority of
patients. The cysts were most frequently found in the liver (55.7%),
followed by the lungs (22.8%), then other organs (16.4%). Among
patients, 5.1% had cysts in 2 organs (lungs and liver). The distribution of
residence of patients showed that 44 (55.7%) of them were Benghazi
residents, followed by El-Beyda residents by 12 (15.2%). Conclusion:
The population in northeast of Libya is suspected to be at high risk for
CE infection because many inhabitants have flocks of sheep or goats that
are kept around dogs for protection.