ABSTRACT

The lungs and livers of 480 cattle that were three years or older and 1472 sheep which were two years or older were examined for hydatid cysts. Those animals were brought to the Kars Meat Abattoir and Municipal Slaughterhouse from the different villages and towns of the Kars Province between September 2001 and August 2003. The rate of infection was 31.25% (150/480) in cattle and 63.85% (940/1472) in sheep. The proportions of hydatid cysts in the organs of infected cattle were 80% (120/150) in lungs and 64% (96/150) in livers. The percentage of cysts seen in both organs of the cattle was 44% (66/150). In infected sheep, the proportions of the cysts observed in the organs were 90.2% (848/940) in lungs and 73.2% (694/940) in livers. The percentage of the infection in both organs was 64% (602/940).

Keywords: Cattle, sheep, Cystic echinococcosis, Kars