Fasciola hepatica prevalence in cattle from the Abancay, Curahuasi and Tamburco districts, Abancay province-Apurímac, Peru during the 2018 rainy season

This study aims to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in cattle from the Abancay, Curahuasi, and Tamburco districts in the Abancay province, Apurímac, Peru, during the 2018 rainy season, and the association between prevalence and age, breed, and district of origin. In total, 295 stool samples were collected, namely 34 from Tamburco, 193 from Curahuasi and 68 from Abancay. For coproparasitological evaluation, the four-sieve sedimentation technique described by Girão and Ueno was used. The total prevalence of F. hepatica in the cattle sampled in this study was 50.8% (150/295), and the prevalence by district was 42.6% (29/68) in Abancay, 53.8% (104/193) in Curahuasi, and 50% (17/34) in Tamburco. No significant association was found with the variable district of origin (p<0.05). However, using a bivariate logistic regression analysis, a significant association was found between F. hepatica prevalence and the breed variable (p=0.008). A similar significant association with the breed variable (p=0.007) was also found using a multiple logistic regression analysis. The high prevalence of F. hepatica identified in this study is consistent with previous reports made in the Apurímac Region, an area considered hyperendemic for the parasite, thus highlighting the need for effective health programs to control disease distribution, which may have an economic and, because of its zoonotic character, public health impact.

Molecular detection of anaplasmataceae agents on dogs from the departament of Piura, Peru

This study aimed to study the prevalence of Anaplasmataceae organisms through the nested-PCR and phylogenetic analysis on domestic dogs in the Department of Piura, Peru. Two hundred and twelve canine blood samples were randomly collected on dogs from the central urban areas at the Piura Department in Peru. The extracted DNAs were tested, by nested-PCR based on 16SrRNA gene, to identify agents from Anaplasmataceae family. These results show that there was a prevalence of 18.5% (40/216) of positive dogs, 13.8% (30/216) for Ehrlichia canis, 7.4% (16/216) for Anaplasma platys and 0.1% (2/216) for Ehrlichia sp. confirmed by sequencing analysis. Co-positivity among Anaplasmataceae family species was present in 25% (10/40) of positive samples. There was a significant association among Anaplasmataceae family infection in dogs and the following variables: sex (p=0.034), presence of ticks (p=0.0001), and socio-economic status (p=0.001). There was no statistical association on the variables "living with other animals" and "age group" (p=0.1074). The partial sequences on the portion of the 16S rRNA gene, from positive samples for agents of Anaplasmataceae family demonstrated an identity of 97-100% with the isolated E. canis and A. platys obtained from the GenBank. This is the first study on infection by agents of Anaplasmataceae family in dogs in the Department of Piura, through molecular analysis