SynthesisActa parasitologica2026
Echinococcosis in Humans and Animals in Algeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Acta parasitologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains an endemic yet insufficiently documented zoonotic disease in Algeria. This study provides the first nationwide systematic review and meta-analysis summarizing epidemiological data from 2003 to 2024 in humans and animals, as no relevant studies were available prior to 2003.
methodsA systematic search of nine databases (last updated: February 2025) was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were screened and selected based on predefined eligibility criteria, resulting in 26 studies (22 animal studies and 4 human studies). Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers using a standardized form. Pooled prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q, τ² and I² statistics. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to host species, region, and study period. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plots and Egger's test. Human and animal datasets were analyzed separately to ensure comparability.
resultsA total of 764,040 animal samples were included, yielding an overall pooled prevalence of 4.69% (35,802 positive cases). The highest pooled prevalence was observed in dogs (16.9%). Among livestock, sheep showed the highest pooled prevalence (5.92%), followed by cattle, camels, and goats. Pooled estimates also indicated infection in horses (6.03%) and wild boars (6.31%), suggesting potential sylvatic transmission. Subgroup analyses revealed significantly higher pooled prevalence in southern regions (10.51%) and a declining temporal trend, from 14.1% in 2003-2009 to 6.09% in 2020-2024. Detection rates varied according to diagnostic methods, with ELISA and post-mortem examination yielding the highest pooled prevalences. All pooled estimates showed extreme heterogeneity (Cochran's Q = 27,254.50; I² = 99.92%), which persisted after Freeman-Tukey transformation. Egger's test indicated significant funnel-plot asymmetry (p = 0.0067), suggesting potential publication bias. Human data were limited to four studies, confirming the persistence of CE mainly in northern regions, but were insufficient to conduct meta-analysis.
conclusionCE remains endemic in Algeria, with pronounced spatial, temporal, and host-related variability. Dogs play a central role in transmission, while the scarcity of human data highlights critical surveillance gaps. A strengthened One Health strategy emphasizing dog deworming, improved slaughterhouse practices, and better diagnostic and reporting systems is urgently needed.
Indexed as
Identifiers
41770437What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.