The prevalence of hydatid cysts in slaughtered cattle in Bangladesh.

Of 10,362 cattle examined in Bangladesh, 4,368 (42.15%) harboured hydatid cysts. One to three-year-old cattle had the lowest (11.34%) and those over nine years old the highest (93.21%) infections. Organ involvement was as follows: liver 35.18%, lungs 32.02%, spleen 0.80%, heart 0.41%, kidney 0.25%, omentum 0.11% and both liver and lungs 31.20%. Fertile cysts occurred in 8.11%, sterile in 74.91%, calcified in 9.42%, suppurative in 6.04% and undeveloped in 1.51% of animals.