Half-Day Research Symposium

Cystic Echinococcosis Sub-Saharan Africa Research Initiative (CESSARi)

Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, Uganda - May 06, 2013

Background:
Echinococcus is a group of parasitic tapeworms that are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. This tapeworm causes a disease called echinococcosis in humans. The two most important forms of the disease in humans are cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis. As infected humans are not usually eaten by dogs, foxes, lions (or other carnivores) they act as dead-end hosts, meaning they do not usually transmit the immature parasite so it can complete its life cycle. Although a dead-end host, they can still cause serious disease. Humans are infected through ingestion of contaminated food, water or soil, or through direct contact with animal hosts. Echinococcosis is often expensive and complicated to treat, and may require extensive surgery and or prolonged drug therapy with anti-parasitics. Prevention programs involve deworming of dogs, improving slaughterhouse hygiene, and public education campaigns. The World Health Organization is working towards the validation of effective control strategies by 2018.


What I learned: 
CESSARi is a joint collaboration between Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, and Germany 

Symposium attendees: veterinarians and biologists;
Dr. Mugisha, front row, far right

Vast knowledge was gained from this workshop. I learned that various efforts are being made to determine knowledge gaps, attitudes and beliefs about echinococcosis in selected pastoral and agro-pastoral African communities. To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with the disease in humans. And finally to learn about a cost-benefit analysis to determine the most cost-effective program for control and management of echinococcosis in these communities. Veterinarians play a very important role in attempting to reduce the animal AND human impact of this disease.



For my veterinary colleagues back home: It feels great to actually apply knowledge we have learned from PODVM... Real World Parasitology, thank you Dr. JR Barta!