title: Human and animal fascioliasis in Mazandaran province, northern Iran.
abstract: The fascioliasis situation in humans and livestock of Iranian Mazandaran is analysed for the first time. Coprological studies showed 7.3% and 25.4% global prevalences in sheep and cattle, respectively. Studies in slaughterhouses indicate that sheep and cattle may be the main reservoir species, buffaloes may play local roles in the transmission, and goats and horses probably only participate sporadically. Morphometric studies by computer image analysis showed that forms intermediate between Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica appear in addition to both species. A total of 107 infected humans were diagnosed during the 1999-2002 period, which suggests that fascioliasis may be widespread. The absence of differences in human fascioliasis among gender and age groups differs from other human endemic areas. Both human and animal infections show marked differences between western and eastern Mazandaran. Traditions in herbal condiments for human consumption, methods of animal husbandry and annual rainfall may explain the higher prevalences in western Mazandaran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Medical Mycology, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 6446, 14155 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moghaddam
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massoud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahvi
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Periago
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bargues
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mas-Coma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D005209:Fasciola / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology