[An echographic, serologic and radiologic register of human hydatidosis. Contributions to a control program].

Between June and November 1984, 904 asymptomatic people from endemic areas of hydatidosis in Rio Negro, Argentina, were studied by means of ultrasonography (U.S.) and double diffusion for arc five (dd5). The population included 272 inhabitants from Pilcaniyeu, 55 patients from the Zonal Bariloche Hospital admitted for diseases other than hydatidosis and 577 recruits from different departments of the Rio Negro Province. A chest X-ray was performed in every recruits. 47 (5.20%) cases of hepatic hydatidosis were detected by U.S.; 11 (1.22%) were detected by dd5 (p 0.01); 2 (0.34%) were detected by chest X-ray. Due to the low sensitivity of dd5 a presumptive diagnosis of hydatidosis should be made in every patient proceeding from an endemic area with a liver cyst diagnosed by ultrasound, even if dd5 is negative. U.S. must be incorporated as an elective method associated with chest X-ray and dd5 in epidemiological yielding and monitoring of control programs for hydatidosis.