PREVALENCE OF HYDATIDOSIS IN CATTLE IN MI DI-PYRENEES, FRANCE

Since 1994 ''Reseau VEGA'' (veterinary survey network) has organized a record of sanitary information in 14 slaughterhouses in the Midi-Pyre nees. Data about hydatidosis in cattle are centralized, analysed, then sent namely to each stockbreeder concerned. Estimation of the prevale nce rare from 1994 to 1996 is 0.28 % for animals and 2.5 % for livesto ck. A marked decrease of rates was noticed during this three-year moni toring period. Nevertheless, the Pyrenean area remains more affected t han the North of the region. in an outbreak of hydatidosis, a few anim als are carriers. Bovine infestation must be considered as revealing a rural cycle. Moreover, the ink between bovine hydatidosis and ovine t ranshumance seems to be confirmed. Using livestock as epidemiological units is innovative in terms of hydatidosis. This approach allows a be tter adjustment of parasitism control and introduces the notions of th e outbreak and the risk of human contamination. in the Midi-Pyrenees r egion, local human cases of hydatisosis are few. However, the absence of compulsory notification and of databases, on the one hand, and the extreme difficulty of confirming the autochthonous nature of the conta mination, on the other hand, limit the reliability of data. A better c ollaboration between physicians and veterinarians would reduce animal prevalence and the risk of human contamination.