Cystic echinococcosis in Italy from the 1950s to present

In Italy the epidemiological pattern of cistic echinococcosis (CE) is incomplete and the information
for most regions is out of date, contradictory, and almost exclusively limited to the intermediate
hosts. The disease is found most frequently in particular social and economic conditions: widespread use
of extensive or semi-extensive sheep farming, illegal slaughtering, and high numbers of sheepdogs and
other types of dogs. The highest incidence in sheep is found in Sardinia (70.6-92.8%), Sicily (6.5-36.5%),
Basilicata (5-28%), Abruzzo (22%) and Tuscany (47%). It North Italy, it is never higher than 0.5% in
slaughtered sheep. No data are available on the biomolecular characterization of the strains ofE. granulosusin Italy, apart from Sardinia and recently Lazio. G1 (Sheep strain), G7 (Pig strain) G2 (Tasmanian
sheep strain) have been identified in Sardinia and G1 and G3 (Buffalo strain) have been recently isolated
in Lazio. In Italy, CE has was also found in buffaloes (2.63-9.8%) and horses (<1%). However, further
epidemiological surveys and genotyping study are necessary. The small quantity of up to date information
on the diffusion ofE. granulosusin dogs (Abruzzo 4%, Sardinia 6-10% and Sicily 19.3%) highlights
the need for modern, fast, sensitive and low risk diagnostic methods which would provide a true picture
of the pattern of the infection in this host.