The pathology of cystic echinococcosis and structural details of hydatid cyst and protoscolex Beigh A.B.2,*, Darzi M.M.2, Bashir S.1,2, Shah A.2, Shah S.A.2 2Division of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar-190006, J&K, India 1Department of Biochemistry, Hamdard University, New Delhi-110062, India *Corresponding author: e-mail: beighab@gmail.com
Abstract Hydatidosis, an important parasitic zoonosis, is a major public health and economic concern throughout the world. A total of 2100 small ruminants (sheep-2052 and goats-48) slaughtered or naturally dead, from various areas of Kashmir valley, were screened for the presence of hydatidosis. Frequently infected organs were lungs and liver. The liver was found to be the most frequently infected organ with prevalence of 61.17% followed by lungs (38.82%). The pulmonary cysts were more fertile (55%) compared to hepatic cysts (45%). Histopathologicallly, the cyst wall consisted of the inner germinal, middle laminated and outer fibrous layer. Inflammatory reaction around the cyst was variable and was characterized by an inner zone of loosely arranged fibroblasts infiltrated with mononuclear cells, followed by densely arranged fibroblasts along with mononuclear cells; and an outer layer of fibrous connective tissue. Hepatocellular degeneration and cirrhosis were observed in liver besides the cellular reaction against the expanding cyst, the severity of which was inversely related to the distance from the cyst. Qualitative increase was observed for acid mucopolysaccharides in fibroblasts, inflammatory cells and bronchial epithelium. Masson's trichrome revealed intense deposition of collagen fibers in the pericystic connective tissue. The structural details of the protoscolices were clearly discernable. The calcareous corpuscles of the protoscolices were distinct when stained with combined Alcian blue PAS and Toluidine stains but were not visible when stained with H&E and Masson's trichrome stains. Top Keywords Histopathology, Histochemistry, Hydatid cyst, Protoscolex, Zoonosis. Top |