Kajian Aspek Epidemiologi Echinococcosis - Sandy, Semuel (Cermin Dunia Kedokteran, 2014)
Echinococcosis merupakan penyakit zoonosis manusia dan hewan. Penyakit ini disebabkan cacing dewasa atau stadium larva (metacestoda) spesies Cestoda, genus Echinococcus (famili: Taeniidae). Manusia terinfeksi melalui makanan yang tercemar telur infektif Echinococcus spp oleh tinja hewan piaraan (anjing, kucing) dan hewan ternak ungulata (domba, babi, kuda, lembu, onta). Parasit cacing ini dapat menyebabkan cystic echinococcosis (CS), alveolar echinococcosis (AE) dan polycystic echinococcosis (PE) pada manusia yang banyak menyerang organ hati, jantung, paru dan otak. Penyakit ini berdampak sosial ekonomi karena biasa tanpa gejala sampai kista menyebar dan ruptur setelah 20-30 tahun. Penyakit echinococcosis masih merupakan masalah kesehatan di daerah endemik karena bersifat emerging dan re-emerging. Diagnosis dini metode serologi dapat positif palsu karena reaksi silang dengan Taenia spp. Pengobatan dengan mebendazole, albendazole, pembedahan kista dan PAIR (puncture, aspirasi, re-aspirasi). Di Indonesia penyakit ini pernah dilaporkan menginfeksi masyarakat di Danau Lindu Sulawesi Tengah berdasarkan pemeriksaan serologis. Namun pemeriksaan fases hewan piaraan anjing tidak menemukan telur dan cacing dewasa Echinococcus spp.Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that can infect humans and animals. The disease is caused by adult worms or larvae stage (metacestoda) of Cestoda species, genus Echinococcus (family: Taeniidae). Humans were infected through food, vegetables and fruits contaminated by feces from infected pets (dogs, cats) and ungulate animals (sheep, pigs, horses, oxen, camels). In humans it can cause cystic echinococcosis (CS), alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and polycystic echinococcosis (PE) mostly found in the liver, heart, lung and brain. This disease has socioeconomic impact because the disease can last for a long period without symptoms until the cyst spread and ruptured after 20-30 years. Echinococcosis remains a health problem in endemic areas because it is re-emerging. Early diagnosis using serological methods may be false positive due to cross-reaction with Taenia spp. Treatment consist of mebendazole, albendazole, cyst surgery and PAIR (puncture, aspiration, re-aspiration). In Indonesia this disease have been reported in Lake Lindu in Central Sulawesi based on serological examination; but pet dog faeces examination failed to find eggs and adult Echinococcus spp.