In Nilka County, Xinjiang, the echinococcosis prevalence survey in Ullas Taiwan Township reveals relationships shown in Table 3. Table 3 displays the occupational liver hydatid relationship based on B-ultrasound results: B ultrasonic diagnosis identified 13 cases of alveolar hydatid, eight of which underwent surgery at the hospital, with five newly discovered cases. Twelve cases involved the right lobe of the liver and one case involved the left hepatic lobe. There were 45 cases of *Echinococcus granulosus*, including 40 cases affecting the right lobe and five cases affecting the left lobe. Thirty-one cases were unicystic, and 14 cases were multi-ascus. The experimental results for hydatid rapid diagnosis showed: A: weakly positive in 28 cases; B: weakly positive in 131 cases; C: weakly positive in 53 cases, four cases strongly positive; D: weakly positive in 18 cases, 20 cases positive, and four cases strongly positive. The hydatid serum infection rate was 12.1%, with the echinococcosis rapid diagnostic test sensitivity at 82.7% and specificity at 90.1%.
The epidemiological survey examined 12 marmot offal, fecal examination confirmed the presence of *Echinococcus granulosus* cysts in the marmot liver (Figure 1), which was further validated by pathological examination identifying protoscoleces larvae in the liver cyst. Figure 1 shows the marmot liver hydatid cyst.
Discussion: Hydatid disease primarily occurs in pastoral areas of Xinjiang, where the prevalence ranges from 2% to 5%, approximately 20 million people are infected, with some areas reaching even higher rates [1]. In Nilka County, especially Ullas Taiwan Township, the survey revealed a higher prevalence of 2.83% in the region, with a hydatid sera infection rate of 12.1%, compared to the domestically reported seroprevalence of 5.88%. The echinococcosis rapid diagnostic test had a sensitivity of 82.7% and specificity of 90.1%, consistent with reported serum-based rapid diagnostic tests such as those used by Yan Pay.
In terms of gender composition, women accounted for 3.49%, slightly higher than the male incidence of 2.12%, showing significant differences in incidence between genders. Women in pastoral areas, particularly minority women, perform household chores, clean livestock offal, shear wool, and make felt. Among ages 25–55 years, the incidence is slightly higher than other age groups, though there is no significant difference in population incidence constitution. This may be associated with the long latency period of hydatid disease in humans and delayed treatment.
Among ethnic groups, Kazakh and Mongolian tribes constituted 3.74% and 4.71% respectively, significantly higher than other ethnicities, indicating significant differences in ethnic group incidence. The main reason is that most Kazakh and Mongolian herders own dogs year-round, have contact with livestock, participate in slaughtering and shearing, and engage in fur trade, exposing them to pathogens. From an occupational perspective, farmers and herdsmen show significantly higher incidence rates than other professions, with pastoralists and farmers accounting for 3.92% and 3.71% respectively. There are significant differences in population incidence among various ethnic groups, attributed to dog ownership habits among farmers and herdsmen who are involved in production and grazing activities, having closer contact with dogs compared to officials and students. Additionally, farmers and herdsmen generally have lower educational levels, poorer living standards, and lack understanding of hydatid disease [4].
The epidemiological survey found hydatid cysts in dissected marmot livers, pathologically confirming the larva head, suggesting marmots may be one of the hosts spreading hydatid disease. Furthermore, environmental factors contribute to the endemicity of hydatid disease in the region. Located at the end of the Tianshan Mountains, north of the Guqin Hills and south of the Po Luo Kenu Hills, the township is sandwiched between two valleys, at an altitude of 900 to 1100 meters, with mountain spacing of only 23 km. The Kashgar River flows through the alpine valley, providing endless snow circulation and river water, with each mountain village having access to this water source. Some herders and poultry drink river water due to poor sanitary conditions in the mountains. Wild animals frequently attack pastoral areas, sheep, and cattle, with the majority of farmers and herdsmen hunting marmots, selling skins, and consuming the meat, mainly Han Chinese and Mongolians. Due to inconvenient transportation, it is difficult to receive better health care at county or city-level hospitals, as evidenced by Yao Bingli's statistics showing 36 cases of hepatic alveolar hydatid cysts from northern Xinjiang pastoral areas.
To address these issues, relevant departments should vigorously promote the prevention and treatment of hydatid disease, educate farmers and herdsmen to change poor living and health habits, improve living conditions, enhance self-care awareness, and reduce the prevalence of hydatid disease.