Epidemiology and spatial distribution of Echinococcus granulosus in sheep and goats slaughtered in a hyperendemic European Mediterranean area

Parasites & Vectors

Maria Paola Maurelli¹  Paola Pepe¹  Laura Rinaldi¹  Giuseppe Cringoli¹  Alessandra Amadesi¹  Antonio Bosco¹  Maria Elena Morgoglione¹  Paola Cociancic²  Leucio Camara Alves³  Edyniesky Ferrer-Miranda⁴  Kleber Régis Santoro⁴  Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos⁵ 

[1] Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Campania, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Campania, Italy;Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET-UNLP-asociado a CICPBA), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina;Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil;Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil;Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil;

关键词: Echinococcus granulosus;    Cystic echinococcosis;    Sheep;    Goats;    Spatial distribution;    Cysts;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-021-04934-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato affecting livestock, particularly sheep and goats. However, often this parasitosis is underestimated. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features and spatial distribution of CE in sheep and goats slaughtered in a hyperendemic Mediterranean area.MethodsA survey was conducted in the Basilicata region (southern Italy) from 2014 to 2019. A total of 1454 animals (1265 sheep and 189 goats) from 824 farms were examined for hydatid cyst detection by visual inspection, palpation and incision of target organs. All the CE cysts were counted and classified into five morphostructural types (unilocular, multiseptate, calcified, caseous and hyperlaminated). Molecular analysis was performed on 353 cysts. For spatial analysis, a kriging interpolation method was used to create risk maps, while clustering was assessed by Moran’s I test.ResultsCE prevalence of 72.2% (595/824) and 58.4% (849/1454) was observed at the farm and animal levels, respectively, with higher values in sheep (62.9%) than goats (28.0%). The liver and lungs were the most frequently infected organs in both sheep and goats. Most of recovered cysts were of the calcified and multiseptate morphotypes. All the isolates were identified as E. granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1–G3). Spatial distribution showed a moderate clustering of positive animals.ConclusionThe findings of this study can be used to better understand the eco-epidemiology of echinococcosis and to improve CE surveillance and prevention programs in regions highly endemic for CE.Graphical abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY