Tierro Del Fuego, Chile

Background

Hydatid disease, or hydatidosis, is a neglected parasitic disease that causes cystic echinococcosis in humans infected with the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. 

Over one million people worldwide are affected with echinococcosis at any one time, and approximately three billion US dollars are spent every year for treatments and livestock industry compensation. 

In humans, the disease can be expensive and complicated to treat, sometimes requiring extensive surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy. Cystic echinococcosis is globally distributed, with highly endemic areas at the southern tip of South America. 

Impact

As part of a global health fellowship funded by the National Institute of Health’s Fogarty International Center, we focused on revealing infection prevalences of E. granulosus in hosts of the parasite (dogs, foxes) and the impacts of hydatid disease on target populations (humans, sheep) on the island of Tierra del Fuego, Chile. 

This investigation will shed light on an extremely relevant and complex health issue involving many key stakeholders, including advocates of human health, animal health, and the conservation of native species.