Prevalence and risk factors associated with liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep in three municipalities in the Colombian Northeastern Mountains.

Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic trematode of worldwide distribution, which affects cattle and a large number of mammals, including man. An investigation was carried out to the Colombian Northeastern Mountain between October 2017 and February 2018 with the aim to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Fasciola hepatica. Thirty-four farms whose owners agreed to participate in the study were included. Overall, 103 bovines and 97 sheep were examined. A fecal and blood sample was collected from each animal, and all the samples were identified and stored in a refrigerated box to be transported to the Parasitology laboratory for analysis. Fecal samples were processed with a coprological technique, and blood by ELISA test. A written epidemiological survey was applied on all farms. The results indicate 20.5% of coprological prevalence and 41.5% of seroprevalence (SP). Evidence of the parasite was demonstrated in the three municipalities; however, statistical differences were found (P < .05), with higher seropositivity in Duitama municipality (SP = 83.3%). Regarding risk factor, pure breeds of cattle showed 2.5 (SP = 56.1, OR = 2.5) times higher of infection than crossed breed. Cattle and sheep from 12 to 24 months of age, showed 2.5 (SP = 66.7%, OR = 2.5) and 5.9 times (SP = 44.2%, OR = 5.9), respectively, increased infection risk. The presence of snails on the farms had higher odds for testing F. hepatica-positive, therefore, showed to be an important risk factor. The presence of antibodies against F. hepatica in cattle and sheep from the region under study suggests it is endemic and should be controlled by control and prevention programs in the farms.

Estandarización de ELISA para el diagnóstico de fasciolosis bovina, ovina y humana / Standardization of ELISA for the diagnosis of bovine, ovine and human fasciolosis

RESUMEN Introducción: La fasciolosis representa un grave problema para el sector pecuario y la salud humana en muchos países. En Colombia, afecta principalmente al ganado bovino y ovino, con escasos reportes en humanos. Objetivo: Estandarizar un Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática para bovinos, ovinos y humanos como herramienta de tamizaje de fasciolosis. Metodología: Se utilizaron 50 muestras de bovinos, 50 de ovinos y 39 de humanos con diagnóstico de fasciolosis confirmado por serología y examen de materia fecal. Se utilizaron cuatro presentaciones del antígeno excretor-secretor de Fasciola hepatica. Se calcularon la sensibilidad, la especificidad y la concordancia. Resultados: La sensibilidad del ELISA en humanos, ovinos y bovinos fue de 100% y la especificidad fue de 97%, 85,2% y 96,2%, respectivamente. El coeficiente Kappa de Cohen fue superior a 0,8 en las tres especies. Conclusiones: La prueba de ELISA estandarizada para el diagnóstico de la fasciolosis humana, ovina y bovina demostró una excelente sensibilidad y buena especificidad. Se propone realizar la validación a mayor escala para su posterior uso como herramienta en el tamizaje de esta parasitosis.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Fascioliasis represents a serious problem for livestock production and human health in the world. In Colombia, it mainly affects bovine and ovine cattle, with few cases reported in humans. Objective: To standardize an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent test (ELISA) in bovine, ovine, and human individuals as a screening tool of fascioliasis. Methods: 50 bovine, 50 ovine and 39 human samples with fascioliasis confirmed by serology and stool test were used. Sensitivity, specificity and concordance were calculated. Results: Sensitivity of the ELISA in humans, bovine and ovine cattle was 100 % and specificity was 97%, 85.2% and 96.2%, respectively. Cohen´s Kappa coefficient was >0.8 in all groups. Conclusions: Standardized ELISA test for bovine, ovine and human fascioliasis exhibited an excellent sensitivity and good specificity. It is proposed to carry out a large-scale validation for its ulterior use as a screening tool for the diagnosis of this parasitic infection.

Comparación de las técnicas Kato-Katz, TSET y TSR en el diagnóstico de infección por Fasciola hepatica en humanos / Comparison of the technique Kato-Kazt, TSET and TSR in diagnosis of the infection by Fasciola hepatica in humans.

Introducción: La Fasciolosis es una enfermedad causada por el parásito Fasciola hepatica, que afecta primordialmente a bovinos, ovinos, caprinos y en algunas zonas de forma endémica a los humanos. En la investigación clínica y epidemiológica de fasciolosis humana es importante contar con técnicas coprológicas de diagnóstico de alta sensibilidad y especificidad. Objetivo: realizar la comparación de tres técnicas coprológicas para el diagnóstico de infección por Fasciola hepatica en humanos. Metodología: se procesaron 200 gramos de materia fecal de humanos contaminada experimentalmente con huevos de F. hepatica que se obtuvieron de análisis anteriores con muestras de ganado bovino y ovino. La muestra se dividió en 10 partes iguales; a cada una de estas muestras se les realizó la técnicas de Kato-Katz, técnica de sedimentación espontánea en tubo (TSET) y técnica de sedimentación rápida (TSR). Finalmente, la lectura de las muestras se basó en el diseño metodológico del doble ciego. Resultados: se encontró que la técnica de sedimentación rápida fue la más sensible de las tres evaluadas, detectándose positividad en 7,5 muestras de 10 analizadas; seguida por la técnica de Kato-Katz con 4,5 muestras y en último lugar la técnica de sedimentación espontánea en Tubo que mostró solo un resultado positivo. Conclusión: en este trabajo se encontró que la técnica de sedimentación rápida constituye la herramienta de elección para el profesional porque es la más sensible de las tres; además de ser sencilla, económica y de fácil aplicación en laboratorios de niveles uno y dos de complejidad para realizar un diagnóstico satisfactorio de fasciolosis humana. Salud UIS 2012; 44 (3): 7-12.

Introduction: fasciolosis is a disease caused by the parasite Fasciola hepatica wich primarily affects cattle, sheep, and goats. In certain areas, it is endemic for human beings. In clinical and epidemiological research of human fasciolosis is important to get diagnostic techniques with high sensibility and specificity. Objective: perform the comparison between three coprological techniques for the diagnosis of infection by F. hepatica in humans. Methods: 200 grams of human feces were experimentally contaminated with F. hepatica eggs obtained from previous analysis with cattle and sheep faecal samples. The preparation was divided into 10 equal parts, each one was processed by the Kato- Katz technique, the spontaneous tube sedimentation technique (STST) and rapid sedimentation technique (TSR). Finally, all samples reading was based on the double-blind study design. Results: we found out that TSR was the most sensitive of the three techniques tested: 7,5 of 10 samples analyzed were positive, followed by the Kato-Katz technique with 4.5 of 10 samples and TSET with only one of 10 samples. Conclusion: This study concludes that the rapid sedimentation technique is the tool of choice for professionals because it is simple, inexpensive and easily applied in laboratories with levels complexity one and two, for a successful diagnosis of human fasciolosis. Salud UIS 2012; 44 (3): 7-12.