Clinical burden and epidemiological characteristics of fascioliasis in horses of andean regions of Mendoza province

Fasciola hepatica es un trematodo zoonótico, cosmopolita, con reservorios animales, domésticos y silvestres. En Mendoza, es prevalente en rumiantes y en equinos, la ocurrencia va del 19 al 100%. El caballo no es considerado reservorio de F. hepatica. La distomatosis equina fue estudiada en varios países, pero hay información escasa sobre su presentación clínica en caballos. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar hematología y química sérica de caballos parasitados por Fasciola hepatica, y a los animales infectados

Clinical impact of fascioliasis in equines from andean zones of Mendoza province, Argentina

En las zonas andinas los equinos son importantes como animales de transporte y carga (a veces el único medio) además de realizar actividades deportivas y recreativas. La fascioliasis en equinos ha sido descrita en varios países de todos los continentes. Investigaciones realizadas por el CIPAR hallaron prevalencias del 50% en caballos de La Rioja, 19,4% en mulas de Uspallata y del 42,8% de caballos y 100% de asnos en Lujan de Cuyo. En Egipto y Bolivia, el asno es el segundo reservorio en importancia luego de los rumiantes. Sin embargo, otros estudios de infecciones experimentales en caballos, no lograron reproducir la enfermedad. El conocimiento actual acerca de esta parasitosis en equinos es escaso

Domestic pig prioritized in One Health action against fascioliasis in human endemic areas : experimental assessment of transmission capacity and epidemiological evaluation of reservoir role.

The Northern Bolivian Altiplano is the human fascioliasis hyperendemic area where the highest prevalences and intensities in humans have been reported. Preventive chemotherapy was implemented in the last ten years. Surveillance showed high human infection and re-infection rates in between the annual triclabendazole monodose treatments. A complementary One Health control action was launched to decrease the infection risk. Among the multidisciplinary axes, there is the need to establish animal reservoir species priorities for a more efficient control. Laboratory and field studies were performed for the first time to assess the Fasciola hepatica transmission capacity of the pig and its potential reservoir role. The experimental follow-up of altiplanic pig isolates through altiplanic Galba truncatula snail vector isolates were performed at different miracidial doses and different day/ night temperatures. Experiments included egg embryonation, miracidial infectivity, lymnaeid snail infection, intramolluscan larval development, cercarial production, chronobiology of the cercarial shedding, vector survival to infection, metacercarial infectivity of mammal host, and adult stage development. Surveys included the assessment of prevalence, intensity, egg measurements and egg shedding rates in nature. Pig contribution was evaluated by comparing with the main altiplanic reservoirs sheep and cattle. Results demonstrated that the pig assures the whole F. hepatica life cycle and participates in its transmission in this area. The fast egg embryonation, high cercarial production, long multi-wave shedding chronobiological pattern in monomiracidial infections at permanent 20 ◦C temperature, and the high daily egg outputs per pig are worth mentioning. The high infection risk suggests early infection of freely running piglets and evolutionary long-term adaptation of the liver fluke to this omnivorous mammal, despite its previously evoked resistance or non-suitability. Genetic, physiological and immune similarities with humans may also underlie the parasite adaptation to humans in this area. The pig should be accordingly included for appropriate control measures within a One Health action against human fascioliasis. The pig should henceforth be considered in epidemiological studies and control initiatives not only in fascioliasis endemic areas with human infection risk on other Andean countries, but also in rural areas of Latin America, Africa and Asia where domestic pigs are allowed to run freely

Evidence of autochthonous transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in Almeria (southeast Spain): An outbreak analysis

Background: Schistosomiasis is endemic in 78 countries belonging to tropical and subtropical areas. However, autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis was reported in Corsica (France) in 2013. We present evidence of autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in Almería (Spain) in 2003. Methods: Description of the outbreak in farmers and subsequent epidemiological studies aimed at searching for Bulinus snails and their genotypic characteristics. Results: The outbreak affected 4 farmers out of a group of 5 people who repeatedly bathed that summer in an irrigation pool in the area. Two of them presented macroscopic hematuria with bilharziomas, showing the presence of Schistosoma eggs in bladder biopsies. Two others were asymptomatic but the serology for schisto somiasis was positive. In 2015, the presence of the vector Bulinus truncatus was demonstrated in Almería in water collections of appropriate characteristics. DNA sequencing proving that local B. truncatus species were base-to base identical to B. truncatus from Senegal. Conclusions: We present a new outbreak of autochthonous transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in Europe. Although no new cases of autochthonous transmission have been reported, some other cases may have occurred at that time or later on and be unnoticed as many cases of schistosomiasis are asymptomatic or present mild and unspecific symptoms