Title : Current situation of cystic echinococcosis in Peru
Abstract:
The Cystic Echinococcosis in Peru, is an important problem in public health and in the economy, causing great economic losses both in livestock production and in the recovery of the health of the affected human population (Náquira C., 2010). Human Cystic Echinococcosis has a worldwide distribution, occurring in many parts of South America, including Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile and the southern part of Brazil (Cucher et al., 2016; Pavletic et al., 2017). In Peru, E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1 genotype) was mainly identified in all animal hosts, while, the E. canadensis (G7 genotype) was only identified in cysts from pigs and alpacas. This is the first report of E. granulosus sensu stricto and E. canadensis in llamas and alpacas, respectively (Sanchez et al., 2022).
In my country, the accumulative incidence rates fluctuate between 39 and 79 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, since 1980, hydatidosis has not been treated by the state and is one of the neglected diseases (Moro et al., 1997; Pérez et al., 2007; Rafael et al., 2008; Irabedra & Salvatella, 2010). In studies carried out on animals in the department of Junín, an 87% prevalence is reported in sheep and between 32 and 79% in dogs, these being the highest reported prevalences in South America (Cardona, 2013; Carmena, 2013). A study in the andean region of Peru with echographic examination and X ray test, the overall prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis was 5.5% (52/949) and the 95% confidence interval varied from 4.1 to 7.1% (Chumbe et al., 2007).
The prevalence of human echinococcosis in this endemic area of Peru is one of the highest in Latin America, due to the close interaction with dogs, as they shepherd the flocks, plus poor sanitation and hygiene conditions in the area (Chumbe et al., 2007). A study in the Tacna Region of Peru found a 4.96% prevalence of echinococcosis in bovine species for the period 2001-2010, the prevalence for sheep was 91% for the period 2001-2010; and the human prevalence rate in the Tacna Region is 10 x 100 000 habitants for the period 2001-2010 (Velasco et al., 2010). High prevalence in Peru and even more so in the central Andean region: Cerro de Pasco, Junín, Huancavelica (Guerra et al., 2015). Currently progress is very slow to deal with this zoonosis, personally I’m in charge of educating or giving talks to the inhabitants of the endemic areas or towns of Peru. Also, I’m working (my doctoral thesis) on the generation of Alpaca antibodies for the serological diagnosis of this disease.
