Evaluation of a control program on hydatid cyst in the city of Kerman

preliminary activities of this study was conducted in the city of Kerman from ۱۹۹۱ to ۱۹۹۴ to carry out a control program on hydatid infection.a total of ۶۵۰۰ stary dogs were killed by bullets or baited with strychnine.of which ۴۵۰۰ dogs were killed during ۱۹۹۳ through spring of ۱۹۹۴ and rest during ۱۹۹۴ in rural and urban areas of the city of Kerman.simultaneously,۲۷۶ pet digs and sheep dogs were treated once every six months with praziquantel for a period of one year.the average infection rate was ۵% in ۱۹۹۳,however there was no significant difference between the values in four seasons.in contrast ,a decreasing trend was observed in infection rate from spring(۵%) through winter(۱.۵%) of ۱۹۹۴.there was a sharp drop in the prenalence of infection in sheep in winter of ۱۹۹۴,while in goats this reduction appreared earlier:it started in summer to the end of winter of the same year.a steady decreasing trend in the rate of hydatid infection in slaughtered animals was observed during ۱۹۹۴(۵.۴% in April ۱۹۹۴ and ۰.۵% in March ۱۹۹۵).although this study is limited to the city of Kerman,it is more or less indicative of condition and distribution of infection in the country.any similar attempt that eliminates dogs in the life cycle of this parasite,will reduce the incidence of hydatid disease in humans and animals.