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The fascioliasis situation in humans and livestock of Iranian Mazandaran is analysed for the first time. Coprological studies showed 7.3% and 25.4% global prevalences in sheep and cattle, respectively. Studies in slaughterhouses indicate that sheep and cattle may be the main reservoir species, buffaloes may play local roles in the transmission, and goats and horses probably only participate sporadically. Morphometric studies by computer image analysis showed that forms intermediate between Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica appear in addition to both species. A total of 107 infected humans were diagnosed during the 1999-2002 period, which suggests that fascioliasis may be widespread. The absence of differences in human fascioliasis among gender and age groups differs from other human endemic areas. Both human and animal infections show marked differences between western and eastern Mazandaran. Traditions in herbal condiments for human consumption, methods of animal husbandry and annual rainfall may explain the higher prevalences in western Mazandaran.

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Seven helminth species were obtained from 12 wild boars (Sus scrofa) during a survey from 2000 to 2001 in Luristan province, western Iran. These species include the cestode larvae Cysticercus tenuicollis (25%), C. cellulosae (8.3%), the nematodes Metastrongylus apri (41.6%), M. pudendotectus (16.6%), M. salmi (8.3%), Trichuris suis (8.3%) and the acanthocephalan Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (41.6%). No trematodes were found. Seven wild boars (58.3%) were identified as having at least one helminth species. A single infection was detected in 16.6% of cases, but a three species infection covered the highest rank (25%). All these helminths have been reported from other areas of Iran including the north, northeast and southwest, but not in Luristan. Among seven helminths identified, at least three species are transmissible to humans. The public health significance of these helminths is discussed.

Contamination by fasciolids takes place through ingestion of metacercariae attached to vegetables. Experimental studies were performed with plant-made foods suggesting a role in human contamination in Iran and on the usefulness of potassium permanganate as a preventive tool for killing metacercariae attached to vegetables used in salads in Egypt. In the foods assayed, although viability decreases with time, a high percentage of the metacercariae were still alive 2 and 4 weeks after preparation. Infection of laboratory animals proved that metacercariae kept their infectivity. The 5-minute tests of potassium permanganate effects showed that metacercarial viability was not affected even at the very high doses of 300, 600, and 1,200 mg/L. Careful, subsequent washing of leaves and vegetables with water is therefore needed after its application. A review on similar studies performed with metacercariae belonging to fasciolid and other trematode species affecting humans is included.