Læknablaðið - 01.04.1971, Page 42

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LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
SUMMARY
Search for hydatid cysts in organs from 6900 cattle and 1730 swine
more than one year old killed in the years 1961-1970 gave negative
results. Examination of organs from tens of thousands of sheep from
all over the country during the years 1953-1970 revealed Echinococcus
cysts in only fourteen ewes. These fourteen ewes wei’e all found in the
same district, Sudur-Múlasýsla.
Echinococcosis in animals is now extremely rare in Iceland.
200 dogs which were killed in the years 1950-1960 in the Reykjavík
area were examined carefully but Echinococcosus granulosus could not
be found.
2272 autopsies performed in the years 1932-1950 revealed that hydatid
cysts are practically only found in persons born before the year 1890.
There are probably various reasons for the disappearance of Echino-
coccosis from Iceland.
The main reason for this remarkable accomplishment is probably
that through propaganda and information given by medical doctors the
population became familiar with the nature of Echinococcosis and its
prevention.
A government regulation issued in 1869 ordering that hydatid cysts
should be destroyed and dogs should be prevented from having access to
hydatid cysts or raw offal, and reducing the number of dogs by imposing
tax on those considered unnecessary has probably been of more effect
than often thought.
Repeated epizootics of dog distemper causing very high mortality
(1870, 1888 and 1899) and annual export of great number of living
wethers in the years 1870-1896 are also considered to have played some
part in reducing the risk of infestation.
HEIMILDIR
1. Eggert Ólafsson og Bjarni Pálsson: Rejse i gennem Island. Soroe 1772.
2. Guðm. Magnússon: Yfirlit yfir sögu sullaveiki á íslandi. Reykjavík
1913.
3. Jón Firisen: Iagttagelser angaaende Sygdoms Forholdene i Island.
Kbh. 1874.
4. Jón Thorstensen: Medicinal Indberetning fra Landphysicus i Island
for Aaret 1840.
5. Jónas Jónassen: Ekinokoksygdommen belyst ved islandske Lægers
Erfaring. Kbh. 1882.
6. Jónas Kristjánsson: Sullarannsókn á sláturfé á Sauðárkróki haustið
1924. Læknablaðið 11, 1925, 6-10.
7. Krabbe, Harald: Helmintologiske Undersogelser i Danmark og paa
Island. Kbh. 1865, 21-61.
8. Magnús Einarsson: Um dýrasjúkdóma, sem sýkt geta menn. Búnaðar-
rit 15, 1901, 125-164.
9. Sami: Dýralækningabók. Rvík 1931.
10. Magnús Stephensen: Veterinair Selskabets. Skrifter, lste Deel, 1808.
11. Matthías Einarsson: Hvernig fær fólk sullaveiki? Læknablaðið 11,
1925, 89-100.