Potential risk factors associated with human alveolar echinococcosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. AE is commonly associated with a long incubation period that may last for more than ten years. The objective of this systematic literature review was to identify and summarize the current knowledge on statistically relevant potential risk factors (PRFs) associated with AE in humans.

Methodology/principal findings

Six bibliographic databases were searched, generating a total of 1,009 publications. Following the removal of duplicate records and the exclusion of papers that failed to meet the criteria of a previously agreed a priori protocol, 23 publications were retained; however, 6 of these did not contain data in a format that allowed the

SUBMITTER: Conraths FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5531747 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature