DETERMINATION OF RISK FACTORS FOR HYDATID DISEASE AMONG ANIMAL BREEDERS IN DÄ°NAR-AFYONKARAHÄ°SAR

Introduction: Hydatid disease is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by a tapeworm called  Echinococcus granulosus . This study aimed to determine the risk factors for hydatid disease among animal breeders in the Dinar-Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey. Materials and Methods:  Between July 2015 and May 2016 a questionnaire form including risk factors for hydatid disease was applied by face-to-face interviews of 95 individuals. Survey data were analysed by percentage. Results: The average of age was calculated as 44.87. It was determined that 45.26% of animal breeders have no information about hydatid cyst, 38.94 % don`t administer antiparasitic drugs to animals, 68.42% will not be able to recognize hydatid cyst while slaughtering and 24.21% have seen hydatid cyst while slaughtering. We asked `Do you have some information about transmission of the disease?` and 80.00% of animal breeders said `No`. The percentage of participants who reported that there were some individuals who have caught hydatid disease around them was 2.10%. Most of the participants (56.84%) indicated that infected organs should be given to dogs or put in the rubbish box and 50.52% of the individuals reported that their dogs can enter easily into barns and they give giblets to dogs. Also, the percentage for animal breeders who don`t administer antiparasitic drug to their dogs was 57.89%. Conclusion: It was detected that the animal breeders in Dinar- Afyonkarahisar have insufficient information about certain aspects of hydatid disease and also we detected some risk factors for the disease.