VIABILITY OF HEPATIC HYDATID CYSTS IN RELATION TO THEIR PARASITOLOGICAL, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES IN PATIENTS TREATED BY DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS

Hydatid cyst disease is a parasitic infection caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosusaffecting mainly the liver. Diagnosis of hepatic hydatidosis depends on clinical presentations, serologicalassays and radiological findings. The present study included 40 patients suffered fromhepatic hydatid cysts. They were classified into 4 groups according to therapeutic protocols theyreceived. All cases were subjected to serological assay, radiological examination to categorizecysts and open surgical intervention for treatment. Samples of hydatid fluid and cysts were examinedregarding parasitological, morphometric and histopathological aspects. Viability of cystcontents was assessed using eosin stain. All samples were cultivated for microbiological assessment.Viability was 95-100% in GI (no previous treatment), 50-85% in GII, 25-45% in GIII(single PAIR technique and single Albendazole course) and 0-10% in GIV (repeated PAIR andmedical treatment). Enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in one samplein GI and 8 samples in GIV respectively.