Abstract:

Objective To understand the input and need for dog deworming in echinococcosis control program in Daofu County, estimate annual cost of deworming and analyze influence factors, in order to provide reference for investment. Methods Thirty villages were randomly selected in Daofu County in November, 2015, to field-survey the cost at various steps of dog deworming, including material cost (deworming drug and bait), village-level deworming cost (drug delivery, mobilization, household deworming and feces disposal) and dog deworming administration cost (training and supervision). Main influencing factors for the annual cost were analyzed with a multiple linear regression model, and the annual cost of the whole county was further estimated based on the regression equation. Results The investment need for deworming in the 30 villages was 41 977.05 yuan, and the actual investment was 13 575.54 yuan, with a gap of 28 401.51 yuan between them. The gap was largest in Qimeier Village (5 059.85 yuan), followed by Qimeisan Village (2 852.74). The overall gap in the 158 villages was estimated to be about 149 581.29 yuan. The regression equation was established as Y = -11.60 + 1 600.63X₁ + 33.46X₂, in which the type of production (X₁) and dog number in a village (X₂) were the main factors for annual cost of dog deworming (Y) (F = 39.57, P < 0.05, adjusted R² = 0.727). The overall annual cost of dog deworming in Daofu County was estimated to be 183 323.00 yuan based on the regression equation. The top 5 villages with regard to annual deworming cost were: Qimeier Village (6 746.46 yuan/year), Quer Village (5 509.30 yuan/year), Xiapulong Village (5 269.63 yuan/year), Xianfeng Village (5 074.32 yuan/year), and Gexi Village (4 901.57 yuan/year). As for geographical distribution, the deworming cost was highest in Baimei District in the southeast of Daofu, including the townships of Longdeng, Xiede, Bamei and Seka, with an annual deworming cost > 15 000 yuan/year, then in Yuke District in the north of Daofu County, particularly the townships of Qimei and Mazi, where the annual deworming cost was 10 000-14 999 yuan/year. In Yinen Town, Weita Town and plateau agriculture district in the center of Daofu, including the townships of Konse, Geka, Gexi and Jiasikong, the annual deworning cost was 5 000-9 999 yuan/year. Conclusion Current fund input on dog deworming can not meet the primary need of “drug delivery to every dog, and deworm in every month”. More input is needed to ensure implementation of dog deworming project.

Key words: Echinococcosis, Dog deworming, Input, Need, Daofu County, Sichuan Province