An Update on the Epidemiological Features of Imported Schistosomiasis and Cystic Echinococcosis in Kuwait, 2010–2018

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Kuwait is considered a non-endemic country for most parasitic infections. However, ∼70% of 4.7 million residents in Kuwait are expatriates from Asian and African countries, which are endemic for parasitic infections. Results of microbiological investigations for schistosomiasis and cystic echinococcosis (CE) performed in a reference national laboratory were retrospectively collected and analyzed to provide an insight on the epidemiology of these 2 neglected tropical diseases in Kuwait. <b><i>Subjects and Methods:</i></b> <i>Schistosoma</i> infection in fecal and urine specimens from suspected patients was detected by microscopy. <i>Schistosoma</i> and CE infections were also detected by indirect hemagglutination assays (IHAs) using blood specimens. Patients’ epidemiological data were extracted from the laboratory records. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The overall prevalence rates of schistosomiasis and CE were 19.0 and 5.8%, respectively. Almost all schistosomiasis cases were seen among Egyptians, especially among males, and a significantly higher prevalence (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) was seen for CE cases among the Syrian residents. A decreasing annual trend was observed for both the parasitic infections over time in Kuwait. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study confirmed that schistosomiasis is not autochthonous in Kuwait, as all cases were detected among expatriates from <i>Schistosoma</i>-endemic countries. Our data also showed that CE remains endemic among humans and livestock in Kuwait as is also seen in other Middle Eastern countries.