ABSTRACT

The aim is to determine the effectiveness of indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) as diagnostic techniques for Cystic Echinococcosis in Iraqi and the possible correlation of age and gender in disease occurrence.

IHA technique using sensitized sheep red blood cells coated with an Echinococcus granulosus antigen. A chi square, Pearson correlation used for analysis of categorical variables.

Patients presented with clinical manifestation of hydatidosis (202) selectively enrolled in this study. The mean age was 31.64±8.98 years. The minimum age was 18 years and the maximum age was 70 years. Males represent 50%, with the mean age of 33.50±7. 8 years. The rest of patients were females with a mean age of 29.78±9. 6 years. Positive cases represent 19.3%, and the 80.7% were negative. The number of positive cases was higher among females (22.8%) compared with males (15.8%) with no significant difference (p= 0.212) or correlation between gender and IHA results (p = 0.214) .The majority of patients had a the rage of 24-30 years, 31-36 years and 18-23 years. Among males, a higher number of positive cases at 31-36 years followed by 24-30 years and 49-54 years. Among females, a higher number of positive cases with 24-30 years of age was followed by those with 37-42 years of age and 18-23 years of age. There was a significant difference (p= 0.001) between age groups according to gender without a significant correlation between the age group and IHA results according to gender (p= 0.268).

The IHA is considered as rapid, reliable and adequate technique that makes it possible to process a large number of samples simultaneously. It does not require highly trained technical personnel. Females appear to be more susceptible to CE than males especially in younger age groups.