Epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis in Al-Najaf province

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis disease of worldwide distribution caused mainly by the metacestodeEchinococcusgranulosus. In  Najaf, its distribution reaches endemic levels. This is results of this study were to investigate the trends in suspected cases of human CE recorded in  Al-Sadder Medical City, Al-Hakim General Hospital and Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital in Najaf city during a period November 2013to September 2014 and to study demographic and clinical characteristics of cases together with epidemiological factors associated with the disease. Clinical records of operated and/or diagnosed patients were reviewed with regard to this disease. 217 cases (68% female; mean age 21-30 years and 32% male; mean 21-30 ) were included in this retrospective study, 79% of which lived in rural areas. Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test to detect anti Echinococcusgranulosusantibody, and ultrasonography were used to diagnose the disease. Lung infection is the most common and most cases frequently