Decreasing trends of ultrasonographic prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in a rural Greek area.

Greece is considered as one of the endemic European countries for cystic echinococcosis (CE). We evaluated the prevalence trends of CE in the rural area of Trikala, Central Greece, through ultrasound records for the period 2001-2008. Of the 47,045 total number of abdominal ultrasound tests performed in the period 2001-2008, a total of 153 individuals had abdominal CE. Despite this generally high figure, significantly lower prevalence rates were noted during the second half of the study period. The implementation of a national campaign for CE control, started in 1984, has led to decreasing annual detection rates of CE in Central Greece.