Epidemiological study of cystic echinococcosis in Man and slaughtered Animals in Erbil province, Kurdistan Regional-Iraq.

Abstract

The present study included the percent of infection with hydatid cystic disease (HCD) in human and slaughtered animals in Erbil province, Kurdistan-Iraq. For humans a statistical analysis of documents, 149 cases have been recorded due to cystic echinococcosis, and treated surgically in private and governorate hospitals in Erbil province. Among total of 17598 patients admitted to the surgical department, 0.846 % of which were found to be infected with cystic echinococcosis, and about 6.3 /100,000 persons among Erbil population. The results of this study showed that the number and rate of infection in rural was 82 (55.03%) higher than in urban 67 (44.97%). According to the occupations of patients, housewives were highly infected than others, and among different organs involved, liver was higher infected 83 (55.7%), and then lungs 30 (20,1%). In comparison to age groups, the highest rate of infection was found among the age group 41-50 years 29 (19,46%). During the examination of 1090 sheep, 360 cows and 240 goats, their infection rates was 121 (11.1%), 28 (7.77%) and 4 (1.66%) infected with cystic echinococcosis, respectively. The livers of these infected animals had the highest involvement, and as follow as: 50.4% in sheep, 75%in cows and 25 % in goats. The percent of fertile cysts in infected animals were: sheep (94.11%), cows (80.64%), and goats (91.66%). The viability of protoscolices were as follow: in sheep (92±3.256 in liver and 85±2.350 in lungs), cows (78±4.23 in liver and 70±3.15± in lungs) and goats 90±2.15 in liver and 86±2.25 in lungs). The economic losses due to cystic echinococcosis of 149 patients treated surgically was approximately 372,500,000 ID or 298,000 US$ and in slaughtered animals the losses of 153 animals infected were 1579000 ID or 1338 US$.