The current role of cattle in transmission of hydatidosis in an endemic area of central Iran

Background and aims: Hydatidosis is considered as one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases, which has a worldwidedistribution with endemic regions in many countries including Iran. The disease has public health and economic importance and itseffective control requires sufficient information on the patterns of disease transmission. This study aimed to assess the current role of thecattle as the intermediate host in transmission of the disease and maintain the evolution of hydatidosis.Methods: The study was conducted at Isfahan Fasaran abattoir. From among ۱۲۹ cattle infected with hydatid cyst, ۱۳۴ liver and lung cystswere transferred to parasitology laboratory. Data including age, sex, the infected organ, the type of cyst (e.g., fertile, sterile, and calcified),and the severity of infection were evaluated for each of the cattle.Results: Based on the data, ۹۹ (۷۶.۷%) of the cases were females and the remaining ۳۰ (۲۳.۳%) cases were males, who were in the agerange of ۵-۱۰ and ۲-۵ years, respectively. In addition, ۳۸۵ cysts were found out of the total ۱۳۴ examined infected livers and lungs andthe number of the cysts in infected organs varied between ۱ and ۱۴. A significantly higher infection was detected in older cattle (P<۰.۰۵)compared to the younger and female ones. Finally, out of the total of ۳۸۵ collected cysts, ۱%, ۵۹.۸%, and ۳۹.۲% were fertile, sterile, andcalcified cysts, respectively.Conclusion: In general, the total rate of cyst fertility was estimated at ۱% and it seems that the role of cattle led to a reduction in thetransmission of the disease. However, due to the species differences in various areas and the better adaptation of the parasite to someintermediate hosts, further studies including more samples are necessary in different regions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydatid cyst ، Fertile cyst ، Sterile cyst