Correlation between age of sheep and structural changes of sheep hydatid cyst

Naturally, the prevalence of hydatid cyst of sheep increase with age and accompany with structural changes. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence of hydatid cyst in sheep and its structure with age. During 2009, 786 sheep in different age groups [1 to 6" |years] slaughtered at Babol abattoir, Mazanderan province were examined for hydatid cyst infection through visual examination, palpation and slicing the infected organs into pieces. The number of cysts was counted and their mean volume, diameter, and number of protoscoleces in different age groups were determined. Our findings showed the overall prevalence rate of infection 35.2%. There was a significant relation between age and considered parameters [p<0.01]. The viability of fertile cysts was 63-85%. The majority of cysts were detected through visual examination [86.4%] and the rest by palpation [8.5%] and slicing [5.1%]. Meanwhile 96% of protoscoleces were found in sheep older then 4 years of age. Old sheep are less productive, higher food consumers and harbor higher number of hydatid cysts. Therefore it can be assumed that using an accurate method for detection of infected sheep in the herd, and culling and slaughtering old infected sheep is a rather cheap and effective means to reduce the infection without losing a high proportion of sheep population

[Primary research on gastro-intestinal cryptosporidium incidence rate in lambs and calves in amol city, Iran]

Cryptosporidium is an ubiqutous enteric protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts. In humans and many other mammals, cryptosporidium is recognized as a significant pathogen primarily as a cause of acute, severe diarrheal illness. At this investigation animal samples [stool] were collected from 708 heads of lambs [in the beginning of the birth to three months] and 713 heads of calves [in the beginning of the birth to six months] in spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons at amol city in 1374. the samples were examinated after staining using modified zihil - nelson technique. Results showed, 29 samples of lambs [4.09%] and 28 samples of calves [3.92%] were positive, also in winter season infestation rate was higher than the other seasons [4.65%]. whereas infestation rate in animals without clinical signs is high, so this subject is a important problems for public health