STUDY OF THE INCIDENCE RATE OF LIVER AND LUNG HYDATIDOSIS IN SLAUGHTERED CATTLE AND BUFFALOES, AT AHAR ABATTOIR (ARASBARAN REGION - NORTHWESTERN IRAN) DURING 2007-2008

Since recent researches on hydatidosis in Iran has reported high infection rates (particularly in the west and northwest regions), this study was done to evaluate the incidence rate of hydatidosis in slaughtered cattle and buffaloes of Ahar abattoir (Arasbaran Zone-northwestern Iran) and compare the results with previous researches in the other regions of Iran. During the one-year evaluation of abattoir data from among 5885 slaughtered cattle and 411 buffaloes, 1570 lungs and 637 livers of cattle (37.5%), and 75 lungs and 56 livers of buffaloes (31.87%) were infected by hydatid cysts. The most infected tissue was lung in both animals. The infection rate of slaughtered cattle at Ahar abattoir was the highest compared with the infection rates of other regions of Iran (based on the statistics of published research). By reviewing the present study and statistics of other researches, it is observed that, the hydatidosis rate in the west and northwest of Iran is greater than the rate in the central part, and the main infected tissue is lung.