The Italian registry of cystic echinococcosis (RIEC): the first prospective registry with a European future

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a worldwide zoonosis, is
highly endemic in southern and eastern Europe. Its
actual prevalence is unknown due to the lack of efficient
reporting systems designed to take into account
the particular features of the disease. Neglect of CE
makes diagnosis and clinical management difficult
outside referral centres, with inconsistencies in clinical
practice and often unnecessary procedures carried out
that have associated risks and costs. The Italian registry
of CE (RIEC) is a prospective multicentre registry
of CE patients seen from January 2012 in Italian health
centres; data are voluntarily submitted to the registry.
Its aims are to show the prevalence of CE in Italy,
bring the importance of this infection to the attention
of health authorities, encourage public health policies
towards its control, and stimulate biological, epidemiological
and clinical research on CE. From January 2012
to February 2014, a total 346 patients were enrolled
in 11 centres, outnumbering national reports of many
CE-endemic European countries. We discuss preliminary
data and challenges of the RIEC, template for the
European registry of CE, which has been implemented
within the Seventh Framework Programme project
HERACLES (Human cystic Echinococcosis ReseArch in
CentraL and Eastern Societies) since September 2014.