Hydatid cysts protoscolices viability and fertility of cysts isolated from various animals in Ilam Province

Echinococcosis, a worldwide zoonosis, is caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis belonging to the family taeniidae. Because of the increasing consumption of red meat; survey, prevention and treatment of this disease will be essential. Also detection of contaminant factors including parasitic agents and the factors that are related to the hosts is helpful to codify a useful programme for prevention of this disease. This slaughterhouse based survey has been done to determine the rate of hydatidosis in Ilam province on 2380 sheep, 975 goats and 1820 cows. Overall 10% of infected livers and lungs from each animal group randomly collected and the number of cysts was determined macroscopically. The rate of hydatidosis was 6.8 % in sheep, 4.2 % in goats and 8.6 % in cows. The infection rates of lungs in sheep, goats and cows were 82, 73 and 75%, respectively, while the infection rates of livers were 12, 8 and 13%, in sheep, goats and cows, respectively. The difference of infection rates between lung and liver was statistically significant (p < 0.05). After transferring of specimens to the laboratory for detection of protoscolices, results shows that the rate of alveolar cysts were teemed in sheep, cows and goats were 12 %, 24 % and 22 %, respectively and also exuberated hepatic cysts in sheep, cows and goats were 25 %, 2.5 % and 18 %, respectively. The rates of alive protoscolices in fertile cysts were determined by eosin staining and the percentage of protoscolices that were stained were considered alive. Their cumulative rates were 79.45, 88.95 and 72.02 % while their rates in livers were 65.71, 38.45 and 86.14% in sheep, cows and goats, respectively. These results showed a considerable infection of sheep and goats in this region. It could be concluded that because sheep, goats and guard dogs are maintained close to together, therefore these high rates of infection are due to continuous contact of these animals with dogs and their feces. Also low knowledge of people about true prevention strategies especially in the deprived region that has nomadic inhabitants may be the main cause of increasing of hydatid cyst infestation. The prevention strategies like suitable annihilation of infected viscera would be key task in decreasing hydatid cyst rate in Ilam.