Abstract:

Objective To understand the hydatidosis prevalence in 6- to 12-year-old children in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and provide scientific basis for formulation of control measures. Methods One primary school was selected from each of the pastoral area, pastoral-agricultural area, agricultural area, and township area in 42 counties （cities） of southern Xinjiang, using the stratified sampling method. With the consent of their parents, B ultrasonic abdominal scan and venous blood collection were performed on all the children （6-12 years） in the selected schools. Serum level of echinococcus antibody IgG was determined by ELISA. Hydatidosis prevalence and the serum level of IgG in these children were analyzed. Results A total of 80 429 children were examined from 168 primary schools. B ultrasonic scan revealed hydatidosis in 9 children （0.01%）, comprising 3 cases in Kezhou, 2 in Aksu, 2 in Bazhou, and 2 in Kashi. ELISA results showed that 4 189 children were positive for serum IgG, with a positive rate of 5.21%. The positive rate was highest in Kashi （8.41%, 2 143/25 495）, followed by Aksu （5.69%, 913/16 051）, with significant difference between different areas （χ2=977.303， P<0.01）. The positive rate was lowest in 6-year children （2.13%, 44/2 065） and highest in 11-year children （5.68%, 822/14 462） （χ2=48.221, P<0.01）. In addition, the positive rate was highest in Uighur children（5.19%, 3 899/75 115）, followed by Mongolian children （4.27%, 68/1 592）, with no significant difference between ethnic groups （χ2=4.072, P>0.05）. Among the children of residents, children with a nomadic lifestyle, and children settled in winter and living in a nomadic lifestyle in summer, hydatidosis occurred in 7 residents and 2 children who settled in winter and living in a nomadic lifestyle in summer; and the positive rate of serum antibody was 5.45% （184/77 512）, 2.97% （3/101）, 0.07% （2/2 816）, respectively（χ2=148.609, P<0.01）. Conclusion There is a low hydatidosis prevalence in 6- to 12-year-old children in southern Xinjiang, but the positive rate of serum echinococcus IgG in kashgar region, Uighur ethnicity, and children of the resident group are relatively high.

Key words: Southern Xinjiang, Echinococcosis, Children, Epidemiology