Validation of the natural sedimentation technique in the diagnosis of chronic fasciolosis.

There are various diagnostic techniques available for chronic fasciolosis in ruminants. However, many of them exhibit low specificity and sensitivity, making them impractical for field use and in low-resource laboratories. The present study evaluates the usefulness of the Natural Sedimentation technique in diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in three domestic species conducted at the Laboratorio de Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinas, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca. Fecal samples were collected from n = 323 cattle, n = 362 sheep, and n = 231 swine for Fasciola hepatica fecal egg counts. The visualization of adult parasites in animal livers post-mortem was considered the gold standard. Additionally, the sensitivity of the technique was evaluated using five different amounts of feces. In cattle, a sensitivity of 0.93 ± 0.03, specificity of 0.91 ± 0.06, positive predictive value of 0.96 ± 0.03, and negative predictive value of 0.86 ± 0.07 were obtained. In sheep, a sensitivity of 0.79 ± 0.05, specificity of 0.83 ± 0.07, positive predictive value of 0.90 ± 0.04, and negative predictive value of 0.66 ± 0.08 were observed. In swine, a sensitivity of 0.92 ± 0.06, specificity of 1.00 ± 0.00, positive predictive value of 1.00 ± 0.00, and negative predictive value of 0.96 ± 0.03 were found. There was no statistical difference in egg counts when using 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 g of feces (p = 0.907). Furthermore, 1 to 688 fecal eggs of F. hepatica were counted in 1 g of feces. The Natural Sedimentation technique has both qualitative and quantitative applications with satisfactory results when using 1 g of feces in the diagnosis of chronic fasciolosis in domestic animals. Due to its simplicity, it can be implemented in field conditions and low-resource laboratories.

Parásitos en un venado de cola blanca silvestre en Cajamarca, Perú

En el presente estudio se informa sobre los parásitos encontrados en un venado de cola blanca, Odocoileus virginianus peruvianus, capturado en el bosque seco del distrito de Paccha, provincia de Chota, departamento de Cajamarca. El Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre recuperó los parásitos de un espécimen macho adulto y las remitió al Centro de Investigación en Medicina Tropical de la Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca para la identificación taxonómica de helmintos y artrópodos, y análisis coproparasitológico. Se identificaron dos metacéstodos correspondientes a Cysticercus tenuicollis. En los análisis coproparasitológicos cualitativos se hallaron huevos de Nematodirus spp. en una carga de 10 por gramo de heces (h.p.g.) y 40 h.p.g. tipo Strongílidos que no pudieron diferenciarse por la baja carga en el coprocultivo. No se detectaron huevos de trematodos en la sedimentación. De ectoparásitos, se identificaron ocho garrapatas duras Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus y cinco piojos chupadores Solenopotes binipilosus. Varios de los ejemplares fueron depositados en el Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima. Los hallazgos representan el primer reporte formal de la garrapata común del ganado en esta subespecie de cérvido. Además, se registra por primera vez la presencia del piojo Solenopotes binipilosus en territorio peruano.

In the present study, findings regarding parasites discovered in a white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus peruvianus, captured in the dry forest of the Paccha district, Chota province, Cajamarca department, are reported. The Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre recovered parasites from an adult male specimen and forwarded them to the Tropical Medicine Research Center at the Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca for taxonomic identification of helminths and arthropods, as well as coproparasitological analysis. Two metacestodes corresponding to Cysticercus tenuicollis were identified. Qualitative coproparasitological analyses revealed Nematodirus spp. eggs at a concentration of 10 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and 40 EPG of Strongylid type that could not be differentiated due to low counts in the coproculture. No trematode eggs were detected in the sedimentation. Among ectoparasites, eight hard ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and five sucking lice Solenopotes binipilosus were identified. Several specimens were deposited in the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima. These findings represent the first formal report of the common cattle tick in this subspecies of cervid. Additionally, the presence of the Solenopotes binipilosus louse in Peruvian territory is reported for the first time.

Morphoidentification of intestinal nematodes in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) from Cajamarca City, Peru.

The research objective was to identify helminths in guinea pigs from processing centers in the city of Cajamarca, determining the frequency, morphometric characteristics, parasite gender, and location. The diagnosis of intestinal parasites was made by examining and opening the postmortem gastrointestinal tract and the morphometric characteristics were determined using a millimetric ruler, micrometric eyepiece, microscope, and stereoscope. At the end of the investigation, a frequency of 76% of nematodes was found, which according to morphometry correspond to Paraspidodera uncinata (74%), Capillaria spp. (18%), and Trichuris spp. (14%); according to location 18% were found in the small intestine (Capillaria spp. 18%), 72% in the cecum (58% correspond only to P. uncinata, 3% to Trichuris spp. and 11% to a mixed infection between both) and 23% in the colon (P. uncinata); no parasites were found in liver or stomach. Nematodes in guinea pigs from Cajamarca is high, with a greater presence of P. uncinata, located in the cecum and colon.

Occurrence of paramphistomosis (Trematoda: Digenea) in sheep in northern Peru.

Cajamarca is an important Andean livestock production area located in northern Peru and at the same time endemic in a poorly studied disease known as paramphistomosis. The purpose of this research was to calculate the frequency of paramphistomids in sheep (Ovis aries) slaughtered in the Camal Municipal de Cajamarca, located in the city of Cajamarca. Between the months of February to September 2019, 386 samples of rumen-reticulum were collected that were later classified by age and origin of the animals. Transferred to the laboratory, the stomach contents were emptied; they were examined meticulously and exhaustively in order to find, collect and recognize the parasites adhering to the walls of the compartments. Nineteen samples were positive for Calicophoron microbothrioides in the rumen and none in the reticulum, thus obtaining a frequency of 4.92% in the presentation of paramphistomids in the sampled sheep. According to the origin, the town of Chanta presented a higher frequency with 9.09% and Bambamarca had the lowest frequency with 2.86%. In the age groups, sheep from 2 to 2.5 years old showed a 5.76% presence of paramphistomids and 3.33% of those 4 years old and older were positive. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r = -0.25473762) indicates that there is a low and inversely proportional negative relationship between age and frequency. Finally, with the Chi-square test, no significant difference was obtained between the place of origin and the number of positive cases.