An Epidemiological updating on cystic echinococcosis in cattle and sheep in Sicily, Italy

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic
disease caused by larval stage of dog tapewormEchinococcus granulosus. Transmission occurs predominantly
in synanthropic cycles, involving sheep,
goats, cattle and pigs as intermediate hosts. In Italy,
according to sheep breeding, the infection rate
increases from north to south regions including
islands. Previous CE prevalence recorded in Sicily in
cattle and sheep were 11.1% and 15.6%, respectively.
The cyst viability, studied in sheep only, was
1,9% (Magliarditi D, Niutta PP, 1995, Atti Associazione
Siciliana di Sanità Veterinaria: 165-167;
Scala Aet al., 2001, 20th International Congress of
Hydatidology, Kusadasi, Turkey: 303). This paper
reports preliminary results on prevalence and viability
of CE in cattle and sheep in Sicily and is part of
a larger research focused on the epidemiological
updating ofE. granulosusinfection.