Effects of gamma irradiation on the mortality of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces in vitro conditions

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Food Hygiene and Aquatic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Food Hygiene and Aquatic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz

Abstract

Hydatid cyst is a larval-stage structure of Echinococcus granulosus, the parasite responsible for causing hydatidosis in humans and animals. Protoscoleces within the cyst play a crucial role in completing the parasite’s life cycle, and their inactivation could help interrupt transmission. Gamma irradiation, with its high penetration power, has been proposed as a potential approach for protoscolex inactivation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on the viability of hydatid cyst protoscoleces under in vitro conditions. Hydatid cysts were collected from the lungs of infected sheep, and after confirming fertility, protoscoleces were placed in sterile microtubes containing phosphate-buffered solution. The samples were irradiated using a Cobalt-60 gamma source at the Northwest Research Complex (Bonab, Iran) for 1.5 to 5 min at doses of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 kGy at 25 °C, with three replicates for each dose.. Viability was assessed using 1% eosin staining. Sodium chloride 5% was used as a positive control, and non-irradiated hydatid cyst fluid served as the negative control. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test. Results showed that protoscoleces mortality was dose-dependent; the highest mortality was observed at 2 kGy (98.5%), while the lowest mortality among irradiated groups was observed at 1 kGy (49%). The negative control group had the lowest mortality rate. In conclusion, gamma irradiation, with increasing doses, effectively inactivates hydatid protoscoleces and may be considered a novel and safe strategy for controlling hydatidosis and reducing the risk of transmission to humans and animals

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Iranian Journal of animal Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 January 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 28 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 December 2025

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