PREVALENCE OF HYDATIDOSIS IN NOMADIC TRIBES OF SOUTHERN IRAN

In order to assess the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus (EO) infection (hydatidosis) in nomadic tribes of southern Iran, 1000 individuals from a total population of 1 12,519 were selected by randomized single blind cluster sampling method and studied from 1994- 1995. The study included: ( l ) a physical examination by a gastroenterologist, (2) abdominal ultrasonography (US), and (3) detection of anti-EO-antibodies (EOA) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The statistically significant prevalences were: US: 1.8%, eIE: 6.8%, and ELISA, 13.7%. The rate of infection varied with age, sex, education, occupation, life style, geographical location of tribal subgroups and the frequency of contact with dogs and cattle. The power of agreement between a combination of each two methods were significant as determined by kappa statistics method. The results obtained indicated that a combination of ELISA and CIE was the most reliable method with a high sensitivity and specificity.