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[Alveolar echinococcosis: a dreadful orphan disease]
1Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor AP-HP et Faculté de Médecine de Créteil. houin@univ-paris12.fr
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|October 19, 2000
Summary
Alveolar echinococcosis is decreasing in Europe due to better screening and treatment. However, widespread wild reservoirs mean the parasitic disease persists, requiring ongoing vigilance and research into spontaneous cure mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Context:
- Alveolar echinococcosis, a widespread parasitic disease, has seen reduced incidence in Europe.
- Improved screening, health education, and serodetection have enabled earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.
- Persistent wild reservoirs, even in urban areas, prevent complete eradication.
Purpose:
- To summarize the current understanding and management of alveolar echinococcosis.
- To highlight advancements in diagnostic techniques and treatment efficacy.
- To explore the mechanisms of spontaneous parasite clearance in humans.
Summary:
- Significant progress in screening and early diagnosis has reduced new cases of alveolar echinococcosis in Europe.
- While drugs and surgery can inhibit disease progression, liver transplantation outcomes are limited by metastasis.
- Humans are poor hosts, often spontaneously ejecting the parasite, with research focusing on understanding this mechanism for potential immunotherapeutic strategies.
Impact:
- Enhanced diagnostic techniques have considerably advanced knowledge of this parasitic disease.
- Understanding spontaneous cure mechanisms may lead to new vaccine or immunotherapeutic approaches.
- Public health initiatives and continued research are crucial for managing alveolar echinococcosis due to persistent environmental reservoirs.