Landscape and climatic characteristics associated with human alveolar echinococcosis in France, 1982 to 2007 , the FrancEchino network

M Piarroux (1) , Jean Gaudart (2, 1) , S Bresson-Hadni (3) , K Bardonnet (4) , B Faucher (5) , F Grenouillet (3) , J Knapp (3) , J Dumortier (6) , J Watelet (7) , A Gerard (3) , J Beytout (8) , A Abergel (9) , M Wallon (3) , Vuitton Da (3) , R Piarroux (10, 2)

1 SESSTIM - U912 INSERM - Aix Marseille Univ - IRD - Sciences Economiques et Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale
2 AMU - Aix Marseille Université
3 LCE - Laboratoire Chrono-environnement (UMR 6249)
4 CHRU Besançon - Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Besançon
5 GDEC - Génétique Diversité et Ecophysiologie des Céréales
6 service d'Hépato-gastro-entérologie
7 Service d'Hépato-gastro-entérologie [CHRU Nancy]
8 Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales [CHU Clermont-Ferrand]
9 Service d'Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie
10 IP-TPT - Infections Parasitaires : Transmission, Physiopathologie et Thérapeutiques

, the FrancEchino network. Landscape and climatic characteristics associated with human alveolar echinococcosis in France, 1982 to 2007. Euro Surveill. 2015;20(18):pii=21118. Available online: Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe hepatic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocula-ris. In France, the definitive and intermediate hosts of E. multilocularis (foxes and rodents, respectively) have a broader geographical distribution than that of human AE. In this two-part study, we describe the link between AE incidence in France between 1982 and 2007 and climatic and landscape characteristics. National-level analysis demonstrated a dramatic increase in AE risk in areas with very cold winters and high annual rainfall levels. Notably, 52% (207/401) of cases resided in French communes (smallest French administrative level) with a mountain climate. The mountain climate communes displayed a 133-fold (95% CI: 95–191) increase in AE risk compared with communes in which the majority of the population resides. A case–control study performed in the most affected areas confirmed the link between AE risk and climatic factors. This arm of the study also revealed that populations residing in forest or pasture areas were at high risk of developing AE. We therefore hypothesised that snow-covered ground may facilitate predators to track their prey, thus increasing E. multilocularis biomass in foxes. Such climatic and landscape conditions could lead to an increased risk of developing AE among humans residing in nearby areas.

Domains: Mathematics [math]; Dynamical Systems [math.DS]; Mathematics [math]; Probability [math.PR]; Statistics [stat]; Applications [stat.AP]; Statistics [stat]; Methodology [stat.ME]; Mathematics [math]; Statistics [math.ST]; Environmental Sciences; Environmental and Society; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Health; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Emerging diseases; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Parasitology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie

M Piarroux, Jean Gaudart, S Bresson-Hadni, K Bardonnet, B Faucher, et al.. Landscape and climatic characteristics associated with human alveolar echinococcosis in France, 1982 to 2007 , the FrancEchino network. Eurosurveillance, 2015. ⟨hal-01307319⟩