[Epidemiology of echinococcosis in Bavaria]

There are few and incomplete data about the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Germany. The aim of this retrospective study was to collect informations about frequency and distribution of this parasitosis in one of the main endemic regions (Bavaria).

Standardized questionnaires were sent to all Bavarian hospitals, requesting (anonymous) information about all patients with echinococcosis seen between 1985 and 1989. In addition, hospital statistics and archives were searched for echinococcosis cases. A total of 216 cases were found; sufficient data were available for 181 (87 males, 94 females; mean age 41 [4-79] years). There were 123 patients with cystic echinococcosis (infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus), 58 with the alveolar form (larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis). In the remaining 35 the available information was inadequate for reliable differentiation.

The data indicate a prevalence of echinococcosis in Bavaria of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, 1.1 for Echinococcus granulosus and 0.5 for Echinococcus multilocularis. The mean annual incidence was 0.22 (Echinococcus granulosus 0.15; Echinococcus multilocularis 0.03). Dividing the patients by country of origin, 86.2% of those with Echinococcus multilocularis were German, while 68.3% of those with Echinococcus granulosus originated from outside Germany, mostly the Mediterranean area. The prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection was highest in the District of Swabia (2.4/100,000) and Upper Bavaria (0.6/100,000). These are regions in which there is a proven significantly higher infestation of echinococcosis in foxes. Farmers were most at risk of being infected with alveolar echinococcosis.