Hydatidosis in Sardinia: review and recommendations

In Sardinia, hydatidosis due to Echinococcus granulosus is endemic and constitutes a current and important problem in the economy and public health. This paper reviews the epidemiological aspects, including the geographical distribution, and the socio-cultural factors involved in the dissemination of hydatidosis. Hospital data indicate that about 200 people undergo surgery for hydatid cysts every year with an average of 8.8 deaths annually. An average of 80% of the sheep are infected, constituting a livestock loss estimated as over 20 billion liras per year. The benefits expected from a hypothetical control programme amount to approximately 32 billion liras against an investment of 17 billion liras in a control programme extending over a period of 10 years. The eradication campaign should result in a gradual reduction of infection rate from 80% to 10% in sheep, from 30% to 3-5% in dogs and in a reduction of human morbidity from 200 to 15 cases, equal to a prevalence rate of 1 per 100,000 inhabitants.