Echinococcus granulosus infection in humans and livestock in the Coquimbo region, north-central Chile.
Abstract: Cyst echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonosis in Chile, where studies have focussed mainly in moist southern regions. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in livestock and humans in the semiarid Coquimbo region in north-central Chile. A review of all surgical cases of CE in humans reported in the Elqui, Limarí and Choapa provinces in Coquimbo region for the period comprising 1995-2006 was obtained. In addition, a retrospective study of CE covering condemnation records from slaughterhouses of these provinces from the same period was carried out. The surgical incidence of CE in humans ranged between 2.3 and 8.5 cases per 10(5) people, with more cases reported in provinces with a higher percentage of rural inhabitants (Limarí and Choapa). A total of 174,034 cattle, 22,208 goats, 35,404 sheep, 25,355 swine and 9391 equines were examined during the period. Higher prevalence of CE was detected in cattle (24%), followed by swine (14%), sheep (11%), goats (6%), and equines (9%). More cases of CE in livestock were also found in provinces with higher rural population. The overall trend of the prevalence of CE for each livestock species across years was a significant downward one, except for swine in Elqui and sheep and swine in Choapa. Cattle showed higher prevalence of CE in liver in Elqui, in kidney in Limarí and in lungs in Choapa. Swine showed similar prevalence by organs in all provinces. Sheep showed higher prevalence of CE in liver in Elqui and Limarí and lower prevalence in Choapa. Goats presented higher prevalence of CE in kidney in all provinces, and equines had higher prevalence of CE in liver in the provinces where animals were slaughtered. Further studied are needed to assess whether these differences are due to different strains affecting these species or due to ecological factors. When analyzing the CE prevalence of each species within each province, a negative correlation between prevalence of CE in goats and rainfall in the Limarí province was found. This could be attributed to changes in management practices and/or ecological factors. This study shows that surveillance of CE at slaughterhouses combined with the analyses of incidence in humans can be used to detect areas with a higher risk of infection. Improvements in record-keeping of infected animals at slaughterhouses are proposed in order to trace back farms where infection was most likely acquired.
Publication Date: 2009-12-21 PubMed ID: 20071084DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.12.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study investigates the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE), a major zoonotic disease, in humans and livestock in the Coquimbo region of north-central Chile. The researchers analyzed surgical cases in humans and condemnation records from local slaughterhouses over a 12-year period. The study revealed a concerning prevalence of CE, especially in areas with higher rural populations, and highlighted the need for improved surveillance and record-keeping in slaughterhouses.
Study Overview and Methodology
- The research focused on the Coquimbo region in north-central Chile, an area not extensively studied in relation to CE.
- Researchers acquired and analyzed data from two main sources: surgical cases of CE in humans from 1995 to 2006 and condemnation records from slaughterhouses in the same period.
- The study included a total of 174,034 cattle, 22,208 goats, 35,404 sheep, 25,355 swine, and 9391 equines.
Findings
- There was a surgical incidence of CE in humans of between 2.3 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 people, with a higher number of cases in provinces with more rural inhabitants.
- The highest prevalence of CE was found in cattle at 24%, followed by swine, sheep, goats, and equines.
- CE prevalence was more prevalent in livestock in provinces with a higher rural population.
- Significant downward trends in CE prevalence were observed in most livestock species over the years, apart from swine in Elqui and sheep and swine in Choapa.
Organ-specific Findings
- Prevalence of CE varied by organ and animal species, suggestive of the possibility of different strains affecting these species or environmental factors playing a role.
- A negative correlation between CE prevalence in goats and rainfall in the Limarí province was observed, suggesting potential changes in management practices or ecological factors.
Implications
- The findings highlight the significant prevalence of CE in areas with a higher rural population.
- This study underscores the need for better surveillance and record-keeping related to CE at slaughterhouses.
- Data collected from slaughterhouses and surgical cases could help in identifying areas with a higher risk of infection and potentially trace the origin of infection for better disease prevention and management.
Future Research
- The researchers suggest that more studies are required to decipher whether the findings on organ-specific prevalence are linked to different strains affecting these species or due to varying ecological factors.
- The study indicates that further research is needed in regions and on species not extensively covered in previous studies.
Cite This Article
APA
Acosta-Jamett G, Cleaveland S, Cunningham AA, Bronsvoort BM, Craig PS.
(2009).
Echinococcus granulosus infection in humans and livestock in the Coquimbo region, north-central Chile.
Vet Parasitol, 169(1-2), 102-110.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.12.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin Biocentre, Roslin, Midlothian, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Chile / epidemiology
- Echinococcosis / epidemiology
- Echinococcosis / pathology
- Echinococcosis / surgery
- Echinococcus granulosus / physiology
- Goats
- Horses
- Humans
- Prevalence
- Retrospective Studies
- Sheep
- Swine
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Gädicke P, Heath D, Medina-Brunet A, Siva-de la Fuente MC, Espinoza-Rojas H, Villaguala-Pacheco C, Rubilar M, Cerda C, Quezada M, Rojas D, Henríquez A, Loyola M, Landaeta-Aqueveque C. Assessment of the Vaccination Program against Cystic Echinococcosis in Sheep in the Pehuenche Community of Central Chile.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 8;12(6).
- Acosta-Jamett G, Hernández FA, Castro N, Tamarozzi F, Uchiumi L, Salvitti JC, Cueva M, Casulli A. Prevalence rate and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis: A cross-sectional, community-based, abdominal ultrasound study in rural and urban north-central Chile.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 Mar;16(3):e0010280.
- Stoore C, Andrade C, Hidalgo C, Corrêa F, Jiménez M, Hernandez M, Paredes R. Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst location is modified by Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle.. Parasit Vectors 2018 Oct 10;11(1):542.
- Corrêa F, Stoore C, Horlacher P, Jiménez M, Hidalgo C, Alvarez Rojas CA, Figueiredo Barros G, Bunselmeyer Ferreira H, Hernández M, Cabrera G, Paredes R. First description of Echinococcus ortleppi and cystic echinococcosis infection status in Chile.. PLoS One 2018;13(5):e0197620.
- Cadavid Restrepo AM, Yang YR, McManus DP, Gray DJ, Barnes TS, Williams GM, Soares Magalhães RJ, Clements ACA. Environmental risk factors and changing spatial patterns of human seropositivity for Echinococcus spp. in Xiji County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.. Parasit Vectors 2018 Mar 9;11(1):159.
- Cadavid Restrepo AM, Yang YR, McManus DP, Gray DJ, Giraudoux P, Barnes TS, Williams GM, Soares Magalhães RJ, Hamm NA, Clements AC. The landscape epidemiology of echinococcoses.. Infect Dis Poverty 2016 Feb 19;5:13.
- Assefa H, Mulate B, Nazir S, Alemayehu A. Cystic echinococcosis amongst small ruminants and humans in central Ethiopia.. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2015 Aug 21;82(1):E1-7.
- Acosta-Jamett G, Weitzel T, Boufana B, Adones C, Bahamonde A, Abarca K, Craig PS, Reiter-Owona I. Prevalence and risk factors for echinococcal infection in a rural area of northern Chile: a household-based cross-sectional study.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014 Aug;8(8):e3090.
- Abdi J, Taherikalani M, Asadolahi K, Emaneini M. Echinococcosis/Hydatidosis in ilam province, Western iran.. Iran J Parasitol 2013 Jul;8(3):417-22.
- Otero-Abad B, Torgerson PR. A systematic review of the epidemiology of echinococcosis in domestic and wild animals.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013;7(6):e2249.
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