Sero-prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in small ruminants from hypoendemic Northern Italy

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 106; pp. S18 - S20
• Main Authors: Dalmasso, S., Rossi, L., Molinar Min, A.R., Gennero, S., Stella, M.C., Rambozzi, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-2012
• Subjects: adults; antibodies; dogs; echinococcosis; Echinococcus granulosus; flocks; goats; hydatids; intermediate hosts; pastures; piedmont; Prevalence; Sheep; slaughterhouses; statistics; summer; tapeworms; wolves; Italy; Sheep; Prevalence; Echinococcus granulosus
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.04.028

Reliable figures of local distribution and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in intermediate hosts are a fundamental prerequisite for implementation of control strategies against cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus. With the aim to assess the “true” prevalence of CE in a mountain area of Piedmont region (North-Western Italy), two methods alternative to use of official abattoir data were compared: (i) the necroscopic examination of 117 sheep and goats, killed during wolf attacks while on summer pastures, for presence of hydatid cysts; (ii) the serological examination with an enzyme-linked immuno-electro transfer blot assay (EITB) of 1217 sheep from 9 transhumant flocks for presence of anti-Echinococcus antibodies. EITB was first performed on pooled samples, then each serum sample from positive pools was individually tested. Prevalences were 15.4 and 10.8% with method (i) and method (ii), respectively, and they resulted not statistically different (P>0.05). Seroreactors (from 4.4 to 46%) were found in 7 of 9 tested flocks. Adult Echinococcus tapeworms were found in 2 of 4 necropsied dogs from 3 flocks. On the basis of the results, CE prevalence in small ruminants from Piedmont seems to be higher than that reported by official abattoir statistics in the last decade.