Spatial-Temporary Investigation on the Transmission Dynamics of Echinococcus Multilocularis

Objectives: The aim of this study is to accumulate the baseline data for control program preparation and policy development, and to monitor the transmission dynamics of Echinococcus multilocularis through a comparison of the two time-points of the investigations in 2003 and 2012 (a nine-year interval) on the eco- and geo-environmental risk factors that may enhance the natural transmission between animal hosts and can impact on the transmission to human in Xiji County of Ningxia, P. R. of China, where is a well known hyper-endemic area for a long history. Methods: The selections of investigation areas were undertaken by use of the techniques of the Geographic Information System (GIS). The small mammal trapping was geo-referenced and recorded by use of GPS (Gamin Etrex-surmmit). The temporary landscape and vegetation photos were taken by use digital camera (Olympus, Japan). All those trapped small mammals were identified the species through macroscopic observations of the mammal features and the measurement of the size. The dissection of mammals was also conducted after mammal-body sterilized to examine the possibility of the larval lesion of E. multilocularis in their liver. The comparable date between 2003 and 2012 investigations were evaluated through the comparisons of digital photos, and the statistic analysis of the numeric data by use of Excel program. The Chi-test was used by SPSS for the comparison of the rates between different groups. The confidential interval at 95% and P <= 0.05 was sort as the significant difference. 1 Results: The comparison of the investigation data between 2003 and 2012, the results showed that the changes of landscape in a nine-year interval have somewhat affected on the small mammal inhabitant assemblies in Xiji County of Ningxia, particularly truth on those fallow areas, which have induced the distributions of intermediate hosts of E. multilocularis to be closer to the human communities (villages), where dog-populations have increased for a while. Therefore, the transmission dynamics between small mammals and dogs has been increased and will influence continuously to human infection in near future. Conclusion: This study has evaluated the eco- and geo-environmental risk factors through the impact on the intermediate hosts (small mammals) of E. multilocularis due to the landscape changes in a last decade. The study has also provided the baseline data for future control program design and control policy development.