Journal Name:
Parasites & Vectors
Volume:
9
Issue:
1
Pages From:
1
To:
6
Date:
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Keywords:
Cystic echinococcosis, European Register, Public health awareness, Case series, Clinical management, Surveillance
Abstract:
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease endemic in southern and eastern European countries. The
true prevalence of CE is difficult to estimate due to the high proportion of asymptomatic carriers who never seek
medical attention and to the underreporting of diagnosed cases, factors which contribute to its neglected status. In
an attempt to improve this situation, the European Register of Cystic Echinococcosis (ERCE), was launched in
October 2014 in the context of the HERACLES project. ERCE is a prospective, observational, multicentre register
of patients with probable or confirmed CE. The first ERCE meeting was held in November 2015 at the Italian National
Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanita, ISS) in Rome, to bring together CE experts currently involved in the
Register activities, to share and discuss experiences, and future developments.
Although the Register is still in its infancy, data collected at the time of writing this report, had outnumbered the
total of national cases reported by the European endemic countries and published by the European Centre for
Disease Prevention and Control in 2015. This confirms the need for an improved reporting system of CE at the
European level. The collection of standardized clinical data and samples is expected to support a more rational,
stage-specific approach to clinical management, and to help public authorities harmonize reporting of CE. A
better understanding of CE burden in Europe will encourage the planning and implementation of public health
policies toward its control.