Some observations on hydatidosis in Jordan

Abstract

A total of 2.8% (5 of 176) sera from schoolchildren and university students were seropositive for hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus) by the ELISA IgEtest. The prevalence of seropositivity was 4·5% among females of all age groups (5–24 years) and among males of the age group 18–24 years. Males of the age group (5–17 years) were seronegative. The ratio of seropositivity between schoolboys and schoolgirl was 1:4. Sera collected from 1085 university students, aged 18–24 years, and from 1656 outpatients from northern and central Jordan, and the Jordan River valley, when tested by the IHA test, revealed the presence of antihydatid agglutinating antibodies in 5·16% (56 of 1085) and in 3·6% (60 of 1656) respectively, with a male to female infection ratio of 1:3 in the unviersity students and 1:1·1 in the outpatients. Intensity, prevalence and cyst fertility of E.granulosus increased increased in sheep with age. The results of this study indicate that hydatidosis is in an endemic steady state in Jordan with estimated economic losses if JD 3·0 (=US $ 4·4) per infected sheep.

Epidemiological Investigations on Cystic Echinococcosis in North-West (Sidi Kacem Province) Morocco: Infection in Ruminants

“…These findings are in fundamental agreement with the literature, which states that hydatid cysts are most commonly found in the liver and lungs of ungulates [20,28,32,[68][69][70][71]. However, our results are at odds with the findings from studies conducted in Libya [72], Iran [55,63,73], Jordan [74,75], and Tunisia [29], where researchers reported higher prevalence in the liver than in the lungs. They are also at odds with findings from studies conducted in Ethiopia [64,[76][77][78][79][80], Pakistan [81,82], Bangladesh [83], Iran [57,84], and Nigeria [85], where researchers reported higher prevalence in the lungs than in the liver.…”

Fertility of the cysts of Echinococcus granulosus in domestic herbivores from Benghazi, Libya, and the reactivity of antigens produced from them

“…Curiously, although Abdel Hafez et al (1986) and Abo-Shehada (1993) reported similar fertilities in the cysts they collected from sheep (68.7%± 76.3%), goats (50%) and camels (33.3%) in northern Jordan to those recorded in Libya (present study), they also considered many of the cysts they recovered from cattle (22.2%) to be fertile. The present result for the percentage of cysts from camels slaughtered in Benghazi considered fertile (60%) also contrasts with the markedly higher values reported by Ibrahem and Craig (1998) for cysts from camels in various areas of northern Libya ( .…”

Estimating the economic effects of cystic echinococcosis. Part 3: Jordan, a developing country with lower-middle income

“…The mean value of a sheep skin (including wool) is about U.S.$2.25/animal. The value of the edible liver lost because of CE was reported to be U.S.$3.83/infected animal (Abo-Shehada, 1993). The present market value of milk is U.S.$0.75/kg.…”