The role of cattle in the transmission of cystic echinococcosis in a highly endemic area of the Peruvian Andes

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) Vol. 51; p. 101021
• Main Authors: Lucas, J. Raúl, Cabrera, Miguel, Falcón, Néstor, Lucas, Orlando, Rodríguez, Alejandro, Ramos, Daphne, Gavidia, Cesar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Animals; Bovine; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Cattle Diseases - transmission; Cyst fertility; Echinococcosis - epidemiology; Echinococcosis - transmission; Echinococcosis - veterinary; Echinococcus granulosus; Echinococcus granulosus - isolation & purification; Endemic Diseases - veterinary; Female; Liver - parasitology; Livers; Lung - parasitology; Lungs; Male; Peru - epidemiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Slaughterhouse; Peru; Livers; Bovine; Lungs; Cyst fertility; Echinococcus granulosus; Slaughterhouse
• ISSN: 2405-9390; 2405-9390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101021

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) causes significant losses in Andean livestock production and affects Andean food security. However, more studies are needed to understand the epidemiology of the disease. In addition, the potential contribution of Andean cattle to the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato needs to be known. This study aimed to determine the CE-prevalence and its association with risk factors, such as age and sex of the animals, the parasite load (number of cysts/organ) of condemned organs, and the viability and fertility of Echinococcus cysts from cattle in the Andes. The prevalence was examined in 348 cattle from an authorized slaughterhouse of Huancayo at 3300 m altitude. Cyst burden was determined by extracting all cysts from the total of the CE-infected organs. Cyst fertility and protoscolices viability were analysed from 90 randomly selected CE-infected organs. The CE prevalence was 35.6% (124/348; 95% CI: 30.6%–40.6%). There was no significant effect of age and sex on CE prevalence. CE was significantly more prevalent (p < 0.05) in lungs than livers, 34.8% (121/348; 95% CI: 29.8%–39.8%) vs 8.9% (31/348; 95% CI: 5.9%–11.9%). Most (75%) infected organs had one to five cysts. The mean cyst burden was significantly (p = 0.018) higher in the lungs than livers, 6.4 ± 4.9 vs 3.7 ± 2.9. Cyst fertility was 1.6% (10/608; 95% CI: 0.6%–2.6%). Despite the high CE prevalence, infected organs from Andean cattle play a minor role in CE transmission to dogs in the central Peruvian Andes.
•Andean cattle showed a high CE-prevalence, mainly affecting the lungs.•Most CE-infected organs from Andean cattle had one to five cysts.•Cyst fertility was low, and most of the cysts were non-fertile and aborted cysts.•Andean cattle play a minor role in the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus to dogs.