[Prevalence of fascioliasis in humans, horses, pigs, and wild rabbits in 3 Chilean provinces].
Abstract: This study sought to estimate for the first time the prevalence of fascioliasis among the rural population in the Chilean provinces of Curico, Talca, and Linares, while also determining the disease's prevalence among horses and wild rabbits in Curico and Talca and among pigs in Talca. From January 1986 to December 1990 a randomly selected sample of 5,861 persons in the three provinces was given intradermal, complement-fixation, double-diffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis tests to detect antibody to Fasciola hepatica. In addition, the ELISA test was used in Talca and Linares. Fecal specimens from horses and pigs were inspected for eggs, and the liver and bile ducts of rabbits were examined histopathologically. The overall prevalence of infection among the human subjects was 0.70%, with rates of 0.6% in Curico, 0.75% in Talca, and 0.71% in Linares. The prevalences of infection in horses, rabbits, and pigs were 13.5%, 6.1%, and 20.6%, respectively. It is estimated that some 2,000 people are infected in the study area. It is recommended that rabbits be taken into account in all control programs for this zoonosis.
Publication Date: 1993-11-01 PubMed ID: 8274227
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- English Abstract
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study aimed to assess the occurrence of fascioliasis, a parasitic disease, in humans, horses, pigs, and wild rabbits in three Chilean provinces. Fascioliasis was found in 0.70% of humans, and prevalence rates in animals were notably higher.
Detailed Explanation
Objective and Methodology
- The research’s primary aim was to calculate the prevalence of a parasitic disease known as fascioliasis among the rural residents of Curico, Talca, and Linares provinces in Chile.
- This study was the first of its kind in this region to estimate this figure.
- Not only humans, but the study also aimed to examine the disease’s prevalence in horses and wild rabbits in Curico and Talca, and in pigs in Talca.
- For the research, the team randomly selected a sample of 5,861 individuals in these provinces. Between January 1986 and December 1990, these participants were subjected to intradermal, complement-fixation, double-diffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis tests. These tests were conducted to identify the presence of antibodies to Fasciola hepatica, the parasite that causes fascioliasis.
- The study also used the ELISA test in Talca and Linares. Fecal specimen from horses and pigs were examined for the presence of eggs, indicative of the infection. Livers and bile ducts from rabbits were dissected and examined under the microscope to detect any pathological changes caused by the disease.
Findings
- The overall infection rate among the human participants was 0.70%. The province-specific prevalence rates were quite similar – Curico had a rate of 0.6%, Talca 0.75%, and Linares 0.71%.
- In contrast to the human infection rates, the rates amongst animals were relatively high. The infection prevalence in horses, rabbits, and pigs were 13.5%, 6.1%, and 20.6%, respectively.
- Based on these findings, the researchers estimated that roughly 2,000 individuals in the areas covered by the study are likely infected with this parasite.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- In addition to detailing the prevalence rates, the study also suggested that efforts to control the disease should consider wild rabbits as part of their program.
- This recommendation stems from the fact that while the human prevalence was relatively low, the substantial rate of infection in animals, especially rabbits, indicates a possible transmission source that needs to be addressed to prevent the disease’s spread.
Cite This Article
APA
Apt W, Aguilera X, Vega F, Alcaíno H, Zulantay I, Apt P, González V, Retamal C, Rodríguez J, Sandoval J.
(1993).
[Prevalence of fascioliasis in humans, horses, pigs, and wild rabbits in 3 Chilean provinces].
Bol Oficina Sanit Panam, 115(5), 405-414.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Universidad de Chile, División Sur, Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Parasitología, Santiago.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Animals
- Animals, Wild
- Antibodies, Helminth / blood
- Child
- Chile / epidemiology
- Fasciola hepatica / immunology
- Fascioliasis / epidemiology
- Fascioliasis / immunology
- Fascioliasis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prevalence
- Rabbits
- Rural Population
- Sampling Studies
- Swine
- Swine Diseases / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Rosas-Hostos Infantes LR, Paredes Yataco GA, Ortiz-Martínez Y, Mayer T, Terashima A, Franco-Paredes C, Gonzalez-Diaz E, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Bonilla-Aldana DK, Vargas Barahona L, Grimshaw AA, Chastain DB, Sillau S, Marcos LA, Henao-Martínez AF. The global prevalence of human fascioliasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2023 Jan-Dec;10:20499361231185413.
- Adhikari RB, Adhikari Dhakal M, Thapa S, Ghimire TR. Gastrointestinal parasites of indigenous pigs (Sus domesticus) in south-central Nepal.. Vet Med Sci 2021 Sep;7(5):1820-1830.
- Mas-Coma S, Funatsu IR, Angles R, Buchon P, Mas-Bargues C, Artigas P, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Domestic pig prioritized in one health action against fascioliasis in human endemic areas: Experimental assessment of transmission capacity and epidemiological evaluation of reservoir role.. One Health 2021 Dec;13:100249.
- Beyhan YE, Yılmaz H. Seroprevalence of fascioliasis in the eastern region of Turkey: an eight-year investigation.. Turk J Gastroenterol 2020 Nov;31(11):746-751.
- Munita MP, Rea R, Martinez-Ibeas AM, Byrne N, McGrath G, Munita-Corbalan LE, Sekiya M, Mulcahy G, Sayers RG. Liver fluke in Irish sheep: prevalence and associations with management practices and co-infection with rumen fluke.. Parasit Vectors 2019 Nov 6;12(1):525.
- Bargues MD, Gayo V, Sanchis J, Artigas P, Khoubbane M, Birriel S, Mas-Coma S. DNA multigene characterization of Fasciola hepatica and Lymnaea neotropica and its fascioliasis transmission capacity in Uruguay, with historical correlation, human report review and infection risk analysis.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017 Feb;11(2):e0005352.
- Bargues MD, Malandrini JB, Artigas P, Soria CC, Velásquez JN, Carnevale S, Mateo L, Khoubbane M, Mas-Coma S. Human fascioliasis endemic areas in Argentina: multigene characterisation of the lymnaeid vectors and climatic-environmental assessment of the transmission pattern.. Parasit Vectors 2016 May 27;9(1):306.
- Bargues MD, Artigas P, Khoubbane M, Ortiz P, Naquira C, Mas-Coma S. Molecular characterisation of Galba truncatula, Lymnaea neotropica and L. schirazensis from Cajamarca, Peru and their potential role in transmission of human and animal fascioliasis.. Parasit Vectors 2012 Aug 15;5:174.
- Bargues MD, González LC, Artigas P, Mas-Coma S. A new baseline for fascioliasis in Venezuela: lymnaeid vectors ascertained by DNA sequencing and analysis of their relationships with human and animal infection.. Parasit Vectors 2011 Oct 14;4:200.
- Arias MS, Piñeiro P, Hillyer GV, Francisco I, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Suárez JL, Morrondo P, Sánchez-Andrade R, Paz-Silva A. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of equine antibodies specific to a recombinant Fasciola hepatica surface antigen in an endemic area.. Parasitol Res 2012 Feb;110(2):1001-7.
- Bargues MD, Artigas P, Khoubbane M, Mas-Coma S. DNA sequence characterisation and phylogeography of Lymnaea cousini and related species, vectors of fascioliasis in northern Andean countries, with description of L. meridensis n. sp. (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae).. Parasit Vectors 2011 Jul 12;4:132.
- Mera y Sierra R, Agramunt VH, Cuervo P, Mas-Coma S. Human fascioliasis in Argentina: retrospective overview, critical analysis and baseline for future research.. Parasit Vectors 2011 Jun 11;4:104.
- Parkinson M, O'Neill SM, Dalton JP. Endemic human fasciolosis in the Bolivian Altiplano.. Epidemiol Infect 2007 May;135(4):669-74.
- Dalimi A, Hadighi R, Madani R. Partially purified fraction (PPF) antigen from adult Fasciola gigantica for the serodiagnosis of human fascioliasis using Dot-ELISA technique.. Ann Saudi Med 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):18-20.
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