Human hydatidosis in Duhok-Kurdistan Region-North of Iraq

Abstract EN

Forty eight sera were collected from patients with suspected Hydatid cyst (HC) admitted to Duhok public and private hospitals and from apparently hydatid cyst free people during the period from 1/ October 2010 to 30 / April 2011.

All sera were examined for the presence of specific antihydatid antibodies by ELISA IgG (DRG kit - Germany) and Indirect Hemagglutination test (IHA).

The liver was the most common site of HC in 26 (54.2 %) of cases followed by the lung HC in 12 (25.0 %) of cases.

Regarding the residency of examined patients, most of the HC cases were found to be from rural or semi-rural areas such as Sinjar 17 (35.4%), Sumel 11 (22.9 %), Talfer 6 (12.5 %), Telkif 5 (10.4%) and Shekhan 2 (4.2 %) of cases.

The HC cases reported from patients of Duhok and Zakho were 4 (8.3 %) and 3 (6.2 %) respectively.

The highest rate of infection was among housewives 25 (52.1%) followed by free workers 12 (25.9 %) and the lowest rates were recorded from the government employed, children and students groups.

The highest rate was found in age groups 11-20 and 21-30 years at a rate of 11(22.9 %) for each from the total number of cases followed by the age the group 31-40 years at a rate of 10(20.8 %) of the cases.

The highest percentage was among females 31(64.4 %) of the cases.

Out of 48 patients, it was found that 34 (70.8 %) had a history of contact with dogs and animals, and 14 (29.1%) did not have any contact with dogs and animals.