The control of hydatid disease and ovine cysticercoses in the Australian Capital Territory and southern New South Wales
Christie, M.; Beard, T.C.; Nicholas, W.L.
Medical Journal of Australia 1(21): 773-775
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 875855 Document Number: 114606
The incidence of hydatid disease in man in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 1968-1973 was surveyed from hospital records in Sydney and Canberra. The 162 new cases found represent an incidence of 0.57/100,000/year but the 20 patients living in the Central West Statistical Division of New South Wales at the time of admission to hospital represent an incidence of 12.6/100,000/year in that area. Of 44 rural properties in ACT visited in 1974, 5 had dogs infected with Echinococcus granulosus, 4 with Taenia ovis, 13 with T. hydatigena, 15 with T. pisiformis, 4 with T. serialis, 16 with Dipylidium caninum, one with Spirometra erinacei and 3 with unidentified taeniids. The attitudes of the farmers favoured control measures but displayed a misplaced faith in anthelmintics. The high regional prevalence of hydatid on the Australian mainland indicates a need to restrict availability of anthelmintics and extend the vigorous control measures used successfully in Tasmania.