Seroprevalence and coprological prevalence of liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep from Santander department, Colombia.

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite with a worldwide distribution that affects several mammals, including humans, and is considered a public health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in humans, cattle and sheep, as well as to evaluate factors associated with the prevalence. A total of 185 serum samples from sheep, 290 from cattle, and 114 from humans were collected and processed using an in-house developed ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against F. hepatica. Additionally, 185 stool samples from sheep and 290 from cattle were examined using a Dennis sedimentation technique. Risk factors were analyzed using epidemiological surveys. The overall seroprevalence was 46.5% (86/185) in sheep, 32.5% (94/289) in cattle, and no humans tested positive for the infection. The coprological prevalence was 47.7% (86/180) in sheep and 33.7% (98/290) in cattle. Female gender and cattle living with alternate grazing management showed 2.5 and 6.5 times higher probability of infection, respectively. Bovines coexisting with sheep exhibited a higher risk of infection (odds ratio [OR]=4.3) compared to those without sheep. We concluded that F. hepatica in cattle and sheep has an endemic behavior, and therefore represents a problem of public health for rural communities.

A survey for potentially zoonotic parasites in backyard pigs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Northeast Colombia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Backyard pigs farming is a rearing system associated with poor hygienic and sanitary conditions of the pig, often causing public health and food safety problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of potentially zoonotic parasites in population pig reared under backyard farming in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Northeast Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September to December 2019, a total of 558 fecal samples from 64 backyard pig farms were examined for the presence of enteric protozoan infection. The coprological diagnosis was done by direct examination using Lugol's iodine solution, buffered saline solution, and Kinyoun technique. In addition, blood samples were collected from 200 pigs. Serum was collected and used for the detection of Trichinella spiralis and Taenia solium cysticercosis infections, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of zoonotic protozoa in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area was 65.2%, reporting 52.7% prevalence for Balantidium coli, 33.7% for Entamoeba coli, and 5.7% for Cryptosporidium spp. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was no statistical association (p>0.05), indicating that the prevalence was similar in the region under study. Pigs >7 months of age showed to be a risk factor for B. coli infection, indicating that the prevalence increases with the age, while pigs raised at >1000 masl and access to latrines, increased infection risk for E. coli and Cryptosporidium spp. infections. In the present study, T. spiralis infection was not detected in the analyzed sera, while T. solium cysticercosis infection was found to be 40.5%. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of protozoan infections and porcine cysticercosis reported in this study could be due to poor facilities, and lack of hygiene in the facilities, and suggests the possible transmission of these parasite populations between pigs and humans, thus increasing the transmission of parasites zoonotic potential. Therefore, appropriate sanitary management practices and deworming programs should be adopted to reduce the prevalence of these infectious agents.

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in shelter dogs in Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Colombia.

The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is the causative agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats and also infects humans. The current knowledge about this parasite in South America is scarce compared to North America and Europe. Nevertheless, this parasite has been reported in some regions of Colombia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with D. immitis infection in shelter dogs from Bucaramanga metropolitan area. We performed a cross-sectional study using blood samples from shelter dogs. Microfilariae testing of whole blood included a blood smear and modified Knott's test. Antigen testing of serum was performed using the Anigen Rapid HW Ag Test Kit 2.0 ®. A descriptive analysis and univariable logistic regression analysis were applied. A total of 207 whole blood samples, from 7 shelters dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, were utilized. The overall prevalence of D. immitis observed in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area by blood smears and modified Knott's test was 6.3% (13/ 207) and 0.5% (1/207) by immunochromatography test kit. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was a statistical association (P < .05), indicating that the prevalence was higher in dogs in Girón municipality. Likewise, there was a statistical association (P < .05) between the prevalence with respect to heartworm knowledge and mosquito control. For prevalence by gender, age group, dog breed, and hair length, there was no statistical association (P > .05). For Girón municipality there was a 7.1 times (OR = 7.1; CI95% 0.8-59.2; P < .05) increased infection risk. This study provides current data and the first known report of the prevalence of D. immitis microfilaremia and antigenemia in shelter dogs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, and these results could be useful for designing new control measures for this infection. We observed that the prevalence of both microfilaremia and antigenemia was significantly lower in these sampled dogs compared to previous reports.

First report of furuncular myiasis in a domestic dog caused by Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus, 1781) in Colombia.

This paper reports a case of furuncular myiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis in a domestic dog from Colombia. A male domestic dog, German shepherd breed, of approximately 2 years old was brought for medical consultation. The reason was the presence of one furuncular lesion and discomfort in the patient. Clinical examination revealed a wound over the sacral area similar to an inflammatory papule, with a central punctum exuding a serosanguinous discharge. In the medical examination was applied pressure around the wound, that allowed evidencing a larva inside the tissue. The applied treatment was surgical removal of the larva in the dog. Treatment was complemented with Cephalexin (20 mg / kg, twice a day orally for 7 days), Meloxicam (0.2 mg / kg, once a day orally for 3 days) and cleaning with chlorhexidine, three times a day until removal of points 7 days later. The larva was sent to Parasitology laboratory of the UDES for morphology identification. The larva was identified as Dermatobia hominis.

First report of myiasis in dogs caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel 1858) in Colombia.

This paper reports for the first time in Colombia, two myasis cases caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax in stray dogs. Clinical examination of both patients revealed fever and a large wound at the palpebral level on the right side, and multiple perforating wounds in the right posterior limb where larvae were found. The treatment applied was the manual removal of larvae in the dogs, and subsequent eye enucleation in one dog due to the total loss of the upper right eyelid and the severe mechanical damage that the cornea received. Treatment was reinforced with repellents applied around the wounds and antibiotics. This finding of Cochliomyia hominivorax in stray dogs in Colombia raises concerns about the potential of dogs serving as a reservoir for human infection in the region.