Prevalence of cystic echinococcosis among Muslim and Jewish populations in southern Israel

I. Youngster*, G. Hoida, P. S. Craig, R. Sneir, J. El-On

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Following a review of records at the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) showing a recent increase in the annual incidence of hydatidosis among the Bedouin population of southern Israel, a seroepidemiological survey was conducted. A total of 1439 blood samples were collected from Bedouins and Jews living in the Negev area in southern Israel. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G, indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) were used to detect anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibodies. The seroprevalence in the Bedouin group was 0.68% (7/1026), including two children under the age of 10. Among Jews, a seroprevalence of 0.5% was recorded in patients over 60 years of age only. A high rate of infection was shown in goats and sheep slaughtered in abattoirs in Bedouin localities. The results indicate that echinococcosis is a common disease in the Muslim communities of southern Israel.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)369-375
Number of pages7
JournalActa Tropica
Volume82
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
INCO.DC98/99

    Keywords

    • Bedouin
    • Echinococcosis
    • Echinococcus granulosus
    • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
    • Negev
    • Seroprevalence

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