Prevalencia coprológica de parásitos gastrointestinales en humanos y porcinos de crianza de traspatio del distrito de Zapatero, San Martín

El objetivo del presente estudio de investigación fue determinar la prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en porcinos y humanos del Centro Poblado Menor de Bagazan, provincia de Lamas, Perú. Se colectaron 176 muestras fecales de porcinos de crianza de traspatio y 179 muestras de población humana relacionada a la crianza de estos animales. Las muestras fueron colectadas independientemente de la edad y sexo y fueron analizadas cualitativamente mediante la técnica parasitológica de flotación con solución sobresaturada de cloruro de sodio y la estimación de la carga parasitaria se realizó con el método de McMaster modificado. La prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en los cerdos fue 28.41% (50/176), encontrándose Eimeria spp (63.07%), huevos tipo Strongylus (26.71%), Ascaris suum (12.5%), Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (1.14%), Trichuris suis (0.57%) y Balantidium coli (0.57%). En el caso de los humanos, la prevalencia fue 91.6%, encontrándose Ascaris lumbricoides (34.09%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.11%), Trichuris trichiura (2.72%) y Enterobius vermicularis (0.55%). No se determinó asociación significativa entre prevalencia parasitaria y los factores sexo y edad en porcinos.

A Neglected Parasite: Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus, First Report in Feral Pigs in a Natural Park of Sicily (Southern Italy)

Sanitary management and population control of feral pigs remains a major problem in public health, particularly in natural parks where hunting is prohibited and the extensive farming of livestock is common. Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus is a zoonotic parasite species with a worldwide distribution of which the natural definitive hosts are primarily pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa). The present study describes the main anatomo-pathological and parasitological findings in the first case of M. hirudinaceus in feral pigs in the Madonie park in Sicily (Southern Italy). Overall, 52 acanthocephalans were collected from the small intestine of four infected feral pigs. The prevalence among the 36 examined animals was 11.1% with a mean Abundance (mA) and mean Intensity (mI) of 1.4 and 13, respectively. Pathological examination revealed grossly visible nodules on the external surface of the intestines, corresponding to the proboscis of M. hirudinaceus attached deeply into the intestinal wall. In these sites, severe inflammatory reactions in the tissue involved and the destruction of normal intestinal architecture, as well as necrosis and ulceration in the mucosa, submucosa, and part of the muscolaris mucosae were described. This is the first official report of this neglected zoonosis in Italy, in particular in a natural park where the extensive farming of domestic pigs is practiced. This could favor the spread of this parasite in domestic animals and the environment, increasing the accidental risk of infection in human residents of these areas.

New morphological and molecular perspectives about Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from wild boar, Sus scrofa Linn., in Ukraine

We make new morphological observations not previously reported for the old acanthocephalan Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (Pallas, 1781) Travassos, 1917, described for the first time about 240 years ago. Our specimens were collected from the wild boar, Sus scrofa Linn., in Ukraine in 2005. We provide comparative morphometrics with other populations from Ukraine, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Europe, Brazil and the United States of America. Our specimens from the Ukraine had the smallest trunk (110–120 mm long), longest and thickest hooks, with the third hook being the largest, largest eggs, and a proboscis wider than long. We document the morphology of the proboscis, apical organ, hooks, hook roots, sensory pores, micropores, and eggs with scanning electron microscopy for the first time. We also provide chemical analysis of hooks and eggs using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, discuss its micropores, and provide a new molecular profile based on 18S rDNA from a European population for the first time. Edge of hook tips feature high levels of calcium and phosphorous but the high level of sulphur is mostly found in the cortical layer of eggs. One new partial 18S rDNA sequence (482 nt length) was generated from an adult specimen of M. hirudinaceus. We present the first 18S rDNA published sequence for this cosmopolitan acanthocephalan obtained from Europe. The amplified region corresponded to the approximate middle region of the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene, which is ~1800 nt in length. This molecular contribution is especially valuable in light of the extreme scarcity of genetic information about species of Macracanthorhynchus and of the family Oligacanthorhynchidae as a whole.

Pathomorphological studies on wild boars infected with Metastrongylus spp., Ascarops strongylina, and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus

Introduction: Pathomorphological changes in the lungs, stomach, and small intestines of wild boars infected with Metastrongylus spp., Ascarops strongylina, and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were investigated. Material and Methods: Dissection of 11 wild boars was performed, and parasitised organs were histologically investigated by common techniques. Results: Macroscopic lesions in the lungs infected with Metastrongyus spp. were seen within the apical parts of the large lobes, irregular in form, pale greyish in colour, and compact in consistency. The main pathohistological findings were: the presence of parasite forms, and lymphocytes and neutrophils in the lumen of bronchi and bronchioles, desquamation of the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, emphysema, thickening of alveolar septa, hyperaemia, alveolitis, infiltration of the interstitial tissue with giant cell, monocytes and eosinophils, and peribronchial and disseminated lymphoid hyperplasia. The principal observations accompanying infection with A. strongylina were inflammation and focal mucosal damage in the stomach, the latter clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissues. Severe injuries in the place of attachment of M. hirudinaceus to the wall of the small intestine were seen. Intestinal villi, underlying mucosa, and submucosa were destroyed, and an intense inflammatory reaction was present. Conclusion: The histopathological lesions showed wide diversity, varying from mild to severe; but none of them were lethal.