Approach to risk factor of human behavior on epidemic of alveolar echinococcosis

  Objective   Human alveolar echinococcosis was usually rare, but high AE prevalence appeared in Zhang county and Ming county of Gansu.A questionnaire was carried out there in order to approach risk factor involved AE transmission.

  Methods   86 patients with AE were confirmed by both Hepatic ultrasound massscreening with serological testing identification among 2 485 and their behavoir and life style were questioned.Questionnaire data for putative risk factors were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test statistic.

  Results   Risk factors were relative to total number of dogs owned(P < 0.005), dogs faeces as fertilizer(P < 0.025), closely contact with dogs(P < 0.05)and scavenge of dog(P < 0.001), but not to a history of fox hunting(P > 0.6), contact foxskins(P > 0.9)and dog ownership(P > 0.35).

  Conclusion   The most risk factor was the pollution of eggs of echinococcus multiocularis for environment.Important preventive measure against AE was to decrease dog number and change non-hygienic habit.