Seroprevalence of Hydatidosis in Kaboodarahang, Hamadan Province, Iran, in 2016 - 2017

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid cyst as a significant zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus spp. is endemic in Iran. The present study was carried out to clarify the status of hydatidosis in Kaboodarahang, Hamadan province. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the hydatid cyst seroepidemiology in Hamadan province, Iran. Hamadan province was chosen due to its wide range of livestock breeding and human exposure to stray dogs. We studied the seroprevalence of the parasite and infection risks. In this cross-sectional study, overall 1232 serum samples (524 from males and 708 from females) were collected by randomized cluster sampling in 2016 - 2017. The sera were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using IgG ELISA kits. Before taking the specimens, a questionnaire was filled out for each enrolled patient. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression for risk factors analysis. The seropositivity was 1% (12 cases including four males and eight females). No significant difference was seen according to gender (P = 0.51). There was no significant association between CE seropositivity and age group, occupation, and region, but the association between keeping a dog (in the house or workplace) and a positive IgG test was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Although the seroprevalence of CE was relatively low in Hamadan province, yet, due to the importance of the disease and zoonotic feature of the organism, all preventive measures should be taken into consideration.