Survey of the risk factors of hydatid cyst infection in Lordegan area of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran, 2004

Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic disease and is distributed worldwide. The disease is endemic in most parts of Iran and due to presence of husbandry jobs, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran is potentially one of the high risk areas for the disease. Seroepidemiological investigations in this province revealed that Lordegan area had a high prevalence of Hydatid cyst. This survey was performed to find the risk factors of the disease in Lordegan area. This descriptive and analytical study was performed on 500 cases selected randomly from all the people above 15 years old in Lordegan area. A questionnaire containing risk factors of the disease was filed in by each individual. Thirty butcher shops were also inspected and were asked about Hydatid cyst risk factors. Healthy drinking water was available for 88.2%. Effective washing of vegetables was practiced by 54.4% of the individuals. 7.2% were aware about transmission routes of the disease. In 8.4% of cases foods were exposed to dust. Dogs were kept at home of 22.4% of the cases and 42.6% of the individuals kept domestic animals in their houses. 75% of them expressed the presence of stray dogs in their living places. Questionnaire forms filled by butchers showed that in 30% of the cases, stray dogs were present in the butchery places and in 20%, the dogs were fed by infected meats. 40% of the butchers blow under the skin of slathered livestock to facilitate the process of skin off. Results of this survey indicated that all people especially butchers should be subjected to health education about risk factors of Hydatid cyst.