The role of cattle in the epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in Kerman area, southeast of Iran

The study was carried out from September 2010 to September 2011 at Kerman Municipal abattoir to assess the status of hydatidosis in cattle. Out of the total 1,000 cattle examined visually and manually (palpation and incision), 86 (8. 6%) were found harboring hydatid cysts. A significantly higher infection was detected in older cattle (P < 0. 05) than younger ones. Of the total of 86 infected, 13 (15. 11%) had hydatid cysts only in the lung, 33 (38. 37%) in the liver, 2 (2. 32%) in the muscles, while the rest 38 (44. 18%) had multiple organ infections. Of the 125 viscera harboring hydatid cysts, the highest (56. 8%) was the liver followed by the lungs (40. 8%) and the muscles (2. 4%). From the total of 721 hydatid cysts counted, 205 (28. 43%), 222 (30. 79%), 45 (6. 24%), and 249 (34. 53%) were found to be small, medium, large, and calcified cysts, respectively. The distribution of characterized cysts in different organs based on their size was found to be statistically significant (P < 0. 05). In addition, out of the total 721 cysts collected, 5. 40% were fertile, 60. 05% sterile, and 34. 53% calcified or purulent cysts. The rate of cyst calcification was higher in the liver than in the lung. There was a significant difference in the fertility of the cyst from different organs (P < 0. 05); fertility rate was higher among the cysts of the liver. Hydatid cyst viability rate of 61. 53% was observed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited.