Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches

Abstract Human alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), which is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm, is an increasing healthcare issue in Hungary. Among the 40 known cases in the country, 25 were detected in the last five years. Our study aimed to reveal the geographically...

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Main Authors: Eszter Csulak, Ágnes Csivincsik, Tamás Sréter, Norbert Solymosi, József Danka, Zsolt Káposztás, Gábor Nagy, Balázs Dezsényi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83119-7
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author Eszter Csulak
Ágnes Csivincsik
Tamás Sréter
Norbert Solymosi
József Danka
Zsolt Káposztás
Gábor Nagy
Balázs Dezsényi
author_facet Eszter Csulak
Ágnes Csivincsik
Tamás Sréter
Norbert Solymosi
József Danka
Zsolt Káposztás
Gábor Nagy
Balázs Dezsényi
author_sort Eszter Csulak
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), which is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm, is an increasing healthcare issue in Hungary. Among the 40 known cases in the country, 25 were detected in the last five years. Our study aimed to reveal the geographically underlying risk factors associated potentially with these cases. We investigated the spatial pattern and the impact of potential risk factors of HAE by cluster analysis, and local and global regression models. Also, a questionnaire survey on the patients’ lifestyle was implemented. We found two HAE hyperendemic foci in the country with very dissimilar biotic and climatic features, and controversial impact of different environmental factors. Four factors, viz. forest cover (β = 0.291, p < 0.0001), surface soil wetness (β = − 0.157, p = 0.033), fox infection rate (β = 0.369, p < 0.0001) and socio-economic development (β = − 0.216, p = 0.009), proved important countrywide. The most forested and the least developed districts showed the highest HAE risk. Among the patients, kitchen gardening (67.86%) and dog ownership (67.86%) seemed the riskiest activities. Our models detected an anomaly in one of the poorest regions of Hungary where all risk factors behaved contrary to that of the neighboring areas. This phenomenon was supposed to be the result of under-detection of the disease, and it called attention to the urgent priority of knowledge dissemination to the public and the healthcare professionals.
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spelling doaj-art-5b440df16b6f43e8a2182f035ad048c02024-12-29T12:16:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-83119-7Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approachesEszter Csulak0Ágnes Csivincsik1Tamás Sréter2Norbert Solymosi3József Danka4Zsolt Káposztás5Gábor Nagy6Balázs Dezsényi7Department of Surgery, Somogy County Teaching HospitalDepartment of Physiology and Animal Health, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life SciencesLaboratory Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, National Center for Public Health and PharmacyCentre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary MedicineLaboratory Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, National Center for Public Health and PharmacyDepartment of Surgery, Somogy County Teaching HospitalDepartment of Physiology and Animal Health, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life SciencesDepartment of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis UniversityAbstract Human alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), which is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm, is an increasing healthcare issue in Hungary. Among the 40 known cases in the country, 25 were detected in the last five years. Our study aimed to reveal the geographically underlying risk factors associated potentially with these cases. We investigated the spatial pattern and the impact of potential risk factors of HAE by cluster analysis, and local and global regression models. Also, a questionnaire survey on the patients’ lifestyle was implemented. We found two HAE hyperendemic foci in the country with very dissimilar biotic and climatic features, and controversial impact of different environmental factors. Four factors, viz. forest cover (β = 0.291, p < 0.0001), surface soil wetness (β = − 0.157, p = 0.033), fox infection rate (β = 0.369, p < 0.0001) and socio-economic development (β = − 0.216, p = 0.009), proved important countrywide. The most forested and the least developed districts showed the highest HAE risk. Among the patients, kitchen gardening (67.86%) and dog ownership (67.86%) seemed the riskiest activities. Our models detected an anomaly in one of the poorest regions of Hungary where all risk factors behaved contrary to that of the neighboring areas. This phenomenon was supposed to be the result of under-detection of the disease, and it called attention to the urgent priority of knowledge dissemination to the public and the healthcare professionals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83119-7Human alveolar echinococcosisEchinococcus multilocularisSpatial epidemiologyCulture of povertyHungary
spellingShingle Eszter Csulak
Ágnes Csivincsik
Tamás Sréter
Norbert Solymosi
József Danka
Zsolt Káposztás
Gábor Nagy
Balázs Dezsényi
Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
Scientific Reports
Human alveolar echinococcosis
Echinococcus multilocularis
Spatial epidemiology
Culture of poverty
Hungary
title Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
title_full Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
title_fullStr Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
title_full_unstemmed Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
title_short Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
title_sort retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches
topic Human alveolar echinococcosis
Echinococcus multilocularis
Spatial epidemiology
Culture of poverty
Hungary
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83119-7
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