Animal cystic echinococcosis in Italy

ANIMAL CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN ITALY Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important public health and economic problem in many areas of the world, e.g. in the Mediterranean Region. In Italy, the lack of official data and poor level of reporting, both in animals and humans, do not allow to have a appropriate picture on its occurrence. At the moment, the most reliable epidemiological information is based on research data. Methods. The epidemiological situation of animal CE in Italy is presented, reviewing recent surveys and studies carried out on MIUR National Projects or other research plans. Until now, in Italy, the following agents of CE have been identified: Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1, G2, G3), E. equinus (G4), E.ortleppi (G5), and pig strain (G7). CE has been reported in farmed animals, dogs, wildlife (mainly wolves and wild-boars), and in humans. E. multilocularis (alveolar echinococcosis) has been reported in foxes. It is not present in other animals (althought some wrong reports were notified) or in humans. Recent reported CE prevalences (ranges or mean) are the following: Northern Italy: sheep 0.1- 0.5 % (in some areas, adult sheep 25-45%); cattle 0.03-0.5% (1.4 % in a limited area in Emilia-Romagna); horses 0.3 %; pigs <1 per million. High and unexpected prevalences (> 20%) by immunological tests were found in dogs and wolves from some alpine valleys in Piedmont. Central Italy: sheep and goats 20-80%; cattle 7-15%; pigs 0.3-0.8%; dogs 4-31%; wolves 15%;wild-boars 5 %. Cyst fertility is nearly 5% and 1%, in sheep and cattle, respectively. In Latium, official reports show prevalences < 3% in farmed ruminants. Southern Italy: sheep and goats 4-28%; cattle 3-15%; pigs 0.05-0.5%; water buffaloes 10.5% (cyst fertility 1.4%); dogs 6%. Sicily: sheep 58%; cattle 11-67%; sheperd dogs 6-19%. Cyst fertility is 4% in cattle and extremely variable (9-90%) in sheep, depending on involved province. Sardinia: sheep 75%; goats 24%; cattle 41.5%; home slaughtered pigs 11%; horses 4%; dogs 3-10%; wild boars 4%. Cyst fertility is nearly 10%, 3%, and 8%, in sheep, cattle,and pigs, respectively. CE may be considered sporadic, endemic and hyperendemic in northern, central, southern and insular (Sardinia and Sicily) Italy, respectively. However, high prevalences (nearly 40%) have been reported in adult sheep in different italian provinces, irrespective of area of origin. In order to have appropriate official data on animal CE, Veterinary Services must improve the current surveillance activities, as requested by EU and national legislation