Seroepidemiological Study of Hydatidosis by ELISA Using AgB in Military Personnel

Background and Aim: Hydatidosis is an important parasitic disease, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. It is a major health problem in different parts of the world including Iran. The disease can lead to serious complications in several organs, especially in liver and lungs. It seems that the military forces have a high risk of infection due to their presence in different missions in various climatic, geographical, and security conditions. This study aimed at determining the sero-prevalence of hydatidosis in the personnel of a military unit. Methods: During a cross-sectional study conducted in 2020, antigen B (AgB) was prepared from sheep hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) by Oriol method. Two hundred and five sera samples were prepared and evaluated by AgB-ELISA. Results: Out of 205 examined samples, 30 cases (14.6%) showed a positive response by AgB-ELISA. The most positive cases were observed in personnel aged 30-39 years (63.3%), working in the operational category (76.7%), with 11-20 years of service (43.3%), with university education (96.7%) and living in urban areas (80%). Furthermore, individuals consuming spring/boiled/mineral water (53.3%), who used salt and vinegar (50%) to wash vegetables, had the highest percentage of seropositivity. According to the statistical analysis, there was no significant relationship between the variables and the positivity of AgB-ELISA (P>0.05). Conclusion: High sero-prevalence of antibodies (IgG) against AgB of hydatid cyct in military forces demonstrated the importance of high-quality health educational programs in such communities. Screening and following up of the persons with positive sera are also recommended.