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Echinococcosis : A Case Study in Tibet

Echinococcosis : A Case Study in Tibet. Tibetan Culture. Seminomadic pastorialists Livestock farming Sheep, cattle, yaks Dogs Help with farming Buddhist monk culture allows strays. Echinococcosis in Tibet. High endemicity (WHO) 6.6 % of people on Tibetan Plateau = cysts

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Echinococcosis : A Case Study in Tibet

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  1. Echinococcosis:A Case Study in Tibet

  2. Tibetan Culture • Seminomadicpastorialists • Livestock farming • Sheep, cattle, yaks • Dogs • Help with farming • Buddhist monk culture allows strays

  3. Echinococcosis in Tibet • High endemicity (WHO) • 6.6% of people on Tibetan Plateau = cysts • High prevalence of parasite in animals • Dogs (55% of tested) • Livestock (Sheep = 54%, Yaks = 72%)

  4. At-Risk Populations • Preschool age children • Direct contact with dogs • Higher disease prevalence in adults b/c cysts become symptomatic over time • Occupation and environment • Pastorialism • Dog ownership

  5. At-Risk Populations • Women • They care for dogs • Work with yak feces • (Pregnant = immune suppressed) • Low socioeconomic status • Water quality issues • Illiteracy

  6. Suggested Interventions • Treat people with long-term albendazole therapy • Vaccinate or treat dogs • Prevent dog access to livestock entrails and internal organs

  7. Interventions • Meat inspection and disposal of infected parts • Improved hygiene • Education

  8. Interventions • Cultural challenges: • Lack of interstate cooperation • Difficult logistics (access) • Cultural antagonism • Lack of surveillance of animal infection levels

  9. Land-use changes • Climate change • Less rain = hard to keep plants for farming • More snow = hard for animals to forage • Overgrazing • Could bring in small mammals, hosts of E. multilocularis

  10. D. Scott Smith, MD

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