Echinococcus strains from slaughtered cattle and goats in Oman

Samples from cattle and goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs in Oman will be inspected for the presence of Echinococcus parasitic cysts. Positive samples will then be analysed by PCR to determine the strains of Echinococcus. This will be correlated with the epidemiology of the parasite to determine the distribution in Oman (based on the 4 abattoirs) and imported infections, the age of the animals, organs infected and the fertility of the cysts.