[Human echinococcosis in Poland in 2003-2010 according to the serological tests results of NIPH-NIH]

In 2003-2010 5483 persons suspected of echinococcosis were examined for Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis infections using serological tests in the Department of Medical Parasitology National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene. The screening test ELISA (Bordier Affinity Products S. A.), confirmation tests Western-blot (LDBIO Diagnostics, Lyon-France) and ELISA Em2 plus (Bordier Affinity Products S.A) were applied. Within 235 persons posistive for in screening test, 162 were confirmed with Echinococcus granulosus and 33 - E. multilocularis. In 40 cases the tests failed to determine the Echinococcus species. In the period of 2006-2010 the linear decrease of percentage of positive results was observed. However, the information about the continuously growing population of red fox in Poland, together with the growing percentage of the animals infected with E. multilocularis, suggests the need for continuous monitoring of human alveococcosis.