Prevalence of hydatid cysts in cattle in the province of Kirikkale.

: In present study, organs of cattle slaughtered in Kirikkale Province were investigated for cystic echinococcosis during a one year period. During this period, 847 cattle were examined and 120 of them were found to be infected with cystic echinococcosis. Hydatid cysts were located in the lung in 49.16% of the infected animals, in the liver in 16.68%, and in both the liver and lung in 34.16%. It was found that the number of hydatid cysts detected in 45 infected organs selected randomly (23 livers and 22 lungs) varied from 1-34 (average of 8.13). Fertile cysts were found in 3 (6.60%) organs (two lungs and one liver) during the entire study period. Sterile cysts were detected in 42 organs. Of the sterile cysts examined, 84.5% contained underdeveloped yellow germinal membranes and were filled with water. Of the remaining sterile cysts, 11.10% were caseous and 4.40%, calcified. Multivesicular cysts were found in 4.40% of organs examined. In this study, the prevalence of hydatid cysts was determined to be 14.16% in cattle in the Kirikkale Province. Since the fertility was low in the cysts examined, cattle play a limited role in Echinococcus epidemiology in this region.