Echinococcosis: prevalence of hydatid disease in Sulaimania, Iraq

ABSTRACT

Hydatid disease is widespread and is considered endemic in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Iraq is one of the countries with a high endemicity of this disease. The aim of this study was to diagnose hydatidosis and to identify the prevalence in humans in two different areas in Sulaimania governorate which includes Sulaimania city and Saedsadq district. Sero-epidemiological survey was conducted by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and Indirect Haemagglutination [IHA] to detect anti Echinococcus granulosus antibodies in randomly collected blood samples [n. 536] of different sex, age, and occupation out patients, in Sulaimania and Saedsadq. The sero-positivity in Saedsadq was higher [3.7%] than in Sulaimania [2.5%]; in female subjects [2.8%, 6.4%], sero-positivity was higher than in male population [1.6%, 1.2%], respectively both in Sulaimania and Saedsadq. The sero-positivity was higher in Saedsadq than Sulaimania, and higher among females than males in all age groups