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Seroprevalence and coprological prevalence of liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep from Santander department, Colombia

Soroprevalência e prevalência coprológica da Fasciola hepatica em bovinos e ovinos do departamento de Santander, Colômbia

Abstract

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite with a worldwide distribution that affects several mammals, including humans, and is considered a public health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in humans, cattle and sheep, as well as to evaluate factors associated with the prevalence. A total of 185 serum samples from sheep, 290 from cattle, and 114 from humans were collected and processed using an in-house developed ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against F. hepatica. Additionally, 185 stool samples from sheep and 290 from cattle were examined using a Dennis sedimentation technique. Risk factors were analyzed using epidemiological surveys. The overall seroprevalence was 46.5% (86/185) in sheep, 32.5% (94/289) in cattle, and no humans tested positive for the infection. The coprological prevalence was 47.7% (86/180) in sheep and 33.7% (98/290) in cattle. Female gender and cattle living with alternate grazing management showed 2.5 and 6.5 times higher probability of infection, respectively. Bovines coexisting with sheep exhibited a higher risk of infection (odds ratio [OR]=4.3) compared to those without sheep. We concluded that F. hepatica in cattle and sheep has an endemic behavior, and therefore represents a problem of public health for rural communities.

Keywords:
Cattle; Colombia; fasciolosis; livestock; sheep

Resumo

Fasciola hepatica é um parasita com distribuição mundial que afeta diversos mamíferos, inclusive humanos, sendo considerado um problema de saúde pública. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência de Fasciola hepatica em humanos, bovinos e ovinos, bem como avaliar fatores associados à prevalência de infecção em bovinos. Um total de 185 amostras de soro de ovinos, 290 de bovinos e 114 de humanos foram coletadas e processadas, usando-se ELISA desenvolvido internamente para detectar anticorpos IgG contra F. hepatica. Além disso, 185 amostras de fezes de ovinos e 290 de bovinos foram examinadas, usando-se uma técnica de sedimentação modificada de Dennis. Os fatores de risco foram analisados ​​por meio de inquéritos epidemiológicos. A soroprevalência de F. hepatica foi de 46,5% (86/185) em ovinos, 32,5% (94/289) em bovinos, e nenhum humano apresentou resultado positivo para a infecção. A prevalência coprológica foi de 47,7% (86/180) em ovinos e 33,7% (98/290) em bovinos. Fêmeas e gado vivendo com pastejo alternado, apresentaram probabilidade 2,5 e 6,5 vezes maior de infecção, respectivamente. Bovinos coexistindo com ovelhas apresentaram maior probabilidade de infecção (odds ratio [OR]=4,3) em comparação com aqueles sem ovelhas. Concluí-se que a F. hepatica em bovinos e ovinos tem comportamento endêmico e, portanto, representa um problema de saúde pública para as comunidades rurais.

Palavras-chave:
Bovinos; Colômbia; fasciolose; pecuária; ovinos

Introduction

Liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is a parasitic helminth of the trematode class that causes a chronic disease affecting the liver and bile ducts in ruminants, as well as various other mammals such as sheep, goats, horses, deer, and humans. The primary etiological agent responsible for fasciolosis in Colombia, as well as in other countries in America, Africa, and Europe, is predominantly F. hepatica (González et al., 2011González LC, Esteban JG, Bargues MD, Valero MA, Ortiz P, Náquira C, et al. Hyperendemic human fascioliasis in Andean valleys: an altitudinal transect analysis in children of Cajamarca province, Peru. Acta Trop 2011; 120(1-2): 119-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2011.07.002. PMid:21767521.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica....
; Mas-Coma, 2005Mas-Coma S. Epidemiology of fascioliasis in human endemic areas. J Helminthol 2005; 79(3): 207-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/JOH2005296. PMid:16153314.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/JOH2005296...
; Rokni et al., 2002Rokni MB, Massoud J, O’Neill SM, Parkinson M, Dalton JP. Diagnosis of human fasciolosis in the Gilan province of Northern Iran: application of cathepsin L-ELISA. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2002; 44(2): 175-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0732-8893(02)00431-5. PMid:12458125.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0732-8893(02)...
). Infection in ruminants and other definitive hosts occurs through oral ingestion of water, pasture, and food contaminated with metacercariae (Cordero & Rojas, 1999Cordero CM, Rojas F. Parasitología veterinaria. Madrid: Mc Graw Hill; 1999.). This trematode parasite causes substantial economic losses in animal production and poses a threat to food security, with its adult stage relying on Lymnaeidae snails to complete its biological cycle.

Fasciolosis is acknowledged as an emerging and re-emerging zoonotic disease. Numerous reports indicate that in countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile, the prevalence of animal fasciolosis averages around 57% (Carmona & Tort, 2017Carmona C, Tort J. Fasciolosis in South America: epidemiology and control challenges. J Helminthol 2017; 91(2): 99-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X16000560. PMid:27608827.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X16000...
). Globally, an estimated 2.4 to 17 million people are infected, while 180 million individuals are at risk of acquiring the infection (Mehmood et al., 2017Mehmood K, Zhang H, Sabir AJ, Abbas RZ, Ijaz M, Durrani AZ, et al. A review on epidemiology, global prevalence and economical losses of fasciolosis in ruminants. Microb Pathog 2017; 109: 253-262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017.06.006. PMid:28602837.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017...
). Although there have been few reported cases of human fasciolosis in Colombia, various studies conducted in the country provide important insights into the prevalence of animal fasciolosis. Historically, the coprological prevalence of F. hepatica in Colombia is 25% (Estrada Orrego et al., 2006Estrada Orrego VE, Gómez Gómez M, Velasquez Trujillo LE. Cattle hygiene and bovine fasciolosis. Medellín and Rionegro 1914-1970. Iatreia 2006; 19(4): 393-407. http://dx.doi.org/10.17533/udea.iatreia.4329.
http://dx.doi.org/10.17533/udea.iatreia....
), however, several authors have reported seroprevalence rates of 39.4% to 40% in cattle from the Cundinamarca department and Bogota DF (Giraldo Forero et al., 2016Giraldo Forero JC, Díaz Anaya AM, Pulido Medellín MO. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica en bovinos sacrificados en la planta de beneficio del municipio de Une, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Rev Investig Vet Peru 2016; 27(4): 751-757. http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v27i4.12572.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v27i4.1...
). Similarly, Sierra et al. (2018)Sierra CA, Portillo JA, Tafur GA, Martínez Rodríguez LC. Incidencia de fasciolosis ovina y caprina en el norte del Cesar y sur de La Guajira, Colombia. Rev Electrón Vet 2018 [cited 2023 Oct 2]; 19(3): 1-12. Available from: https://repositorio.udes.edu.co/server/api/core/bitstreams/cd65d0de-4156-4162-a883-6ce2d996a8ed/content
https://repositorio.udes.edu.co/server/a...
reported an 82% prevalence rate in sheep from the Cesar department. In the Quindío department, a prevalence of 3.7% was found in cattle (Recalde-Reyes et al., 2014Recalde-Reyes DP, Sanabria LP, Giraldo Giraldo MI, Toro Segovia LJ, Gonzalez MM, Castaño Osorio JC. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica, en humanos y bovinos en el departamento del Quindío-Colombia 2012-2013. Infectio 2014; 18(4): 153-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infect.2014.09.001.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infect.2014....
), while a study conducted in 2013 in Pamplona, Norte de Santander, showed a prevalence rate of 93.7% (Palma et al., 2014Palma L, Peña R, Becerra Rozo W. Prevalencia de fasciolosis humana y bovina en una hacienda de la Lejia, Municipio de Pamplona, Norte de Santander, Colombia. Bistua 2014; 11(1): 39-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.24054/01204211.V1.N1.2013.839.
http://dx.doi.org/10.24054/01204211.V1.N...
).

The García Rovira region and Onzaga municipality, located in the Northeastern part of Colombia, are significant agricultural regions characterized by small farms dedicated to cattle and sheep production, as well as vegetable cultivation for human consumption. Therefore, studying the prevalence of fasciolosis in these regions of Santander can contribute to a better understanding of the disease in endemic areas of Colombia. Consequently, the primary objective of this research was to determine the seroprevalence of Fasciola hepatica in humans, cattle, and sheep in the Garcia Rovira region and Onzaga municipality of the Santander department, as well as to evaluate factors associated with the prevalence of infestation in livestock.

Materials and Methods

Study region and sampling design

The research was conducted in the Garcia Rovira region, specifically in the municipalities of Cerrito, Concepción, and San Andrés, as well as the Onzaga municipality in the Santander department of Colombia (Gobernación de Santander, 2017Gobernación de Santander. Municipios del Departamento de Santander [online]. Santander: Gobernación de Santander; 2017 [cited 2020 Jan 15]. Available from: https://santander.gov.co/
https://santander.gov.co/...
). The geographic coordinates of the study area were 6°47'58.5”N - 72°31'59.1”W for the Garcia Rovira region and 6°96'53.1”N - 72°75'73.3”W for the Onzaga municipality (Figure 1). The Garcia Rovira region is located approximately 100 km from the Venezuelan border and is characterized by mountainous terrain with complex slopes ranging from 25% to 50%. The region has a humid mountain forest within a cold thermal floor known as “paramo,” situated at an elevation between 3000 and 4000 meters above sea level. The mean annual temperature ranges from 6°C to 12°C, and the mean annual rainfall ranges from 2000 to 4000 mm. The Onzaga municipality shares similar geographic characteristics with the Garcia Rovira region (Gobernación de Santander, 2017Gobernación de Santander. Municipios del Departamento de Santander [online]. Santander: Gobernación de Santander; 2017 [cited 2020 Jan 15]. Available from: https://santander.gov.co/
https://santander.gov.co/...
).

Figure 1
Location of García Rovira region (pink) municipalities: 1-Cerrito, 2-Concepción, 3-San Andrés and 4- Onzaga municipality (light blue) in Santander department, Colombia.

A descriptive and transversal study design was employed. A total of 61 small-scale livestock farms, with an average area of 32 hectares, were visited between September 2018 and April 2019. These farms predominantly raised mixed cattle and sheep and engaged in various agricultural activities. To determine the sample size, the formula for known populations (Thrusfield, 2007Thrusfield M. Veterinary epidemiology. 3rd ed. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell; 2007.) was used, considering an expected prevalence of 15%, a margin of error of 5%, and a 95% confidence interval. The resulting sample size (“n”) was calculated to be 475 animals. The number of farms selected was proportional to the livestock population of each municipality, and the sample size within each farm and for different age groups within each farm was determined proportionally. Consequently, each farm provided between 7 to 10 samples, with an average of 8.6 samples per farm. This sampling strategy yielded a total of 290 cattle and 185 sheep samples. Blood and stool samples were collected from each animal, while 114 human serum samples were obtained from volunteers permanently residing on the farms and having a probability of F. hepatica infection risk.

Sample collection and laboratory analysis

Weekly fecal samples were collected from each sheep and cattle by collecting approximately 5 to 10 g of feces from the rectum. The samples were placed in previously labeled sterile polyethylene bags and preserved with two drops of 10% formaldehyde. The fecal samples were transported to the laboratory within 8 hours for processing. A coprological technique described by Correa et al. (2016)Correa S, Martínez YL, López JL, Velásquez LE. Evaluación de la técnica modificada de Dennis para el diagnóstico de fasciolosis bovina. Biomédica 2016; 36(Suppl S1): 64-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v36i2.2875. PMid:27622626.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v36i...
was employed for fecal sample analysis.

For each animal, 5 mL of whole blood was collected aseptically in a sterile tube without EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) using a disposable syringe from the coccygeal vein. The serum was obtained by centrifugation at 3600 g for 10 minutes and stored at -20°C until further analysis. Serum samples were analyzed for specific anti-F. hepatica antibodies using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with 100% sensitivity in humans, sheep, and cattle, and specificities of 97%, 85.2%, and 96.2%, respectively (Sierra Balcárcel et al., 2017Sierra Balcárcel R, Martínez Vega RA, Gutiérrez Marín R, Dolores Colmenares C, Uribe Delgado N. Estandarización de ELISA para el diagnóstico de fasciolosis bovina, ovina y humana. Salud UIS 2017; 49(4): 549-556. http://dx.doi.org/10.18273/revsal.v49n4-2017004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.18273/revsal.v49n4-...
). The results were read in a microplate photometer, measuring the optical density (OD) at 450 nm. A cut-off value of 0.15 for humans, 0.18 for sheep, and 0.28 for cattle was set to determine positive results, and the results were expressed as percent positive (PP). A farm was considered positive if at least one cattle or sheep tested positive by any technique.

Statistical analysis

The seroprevalence and coprological prevalence results were analyzed using the Chi-square test (X2) to determine the association between independent variables and prevalence values. Variables showing statistical significance at a 5% level were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis (Aguayo Canela, 2007Aguayo Canela M. Cómo hacer una regresión logística con SPSS© “paso a paso”. (I). Sevilla: Servicio de Medicina Interna/Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena; 2007 [cited 2023 Oct 2]. Available from: http://metodos-avanzados.sociales.uba.ar/wp-content/uploads/sites/216/2014/03/Regres_log_AGUAYO-otros.pdf
http://metodos-avanzados.sociales.uba.ar...
).

Results

A total of 474 animals were screened from 61 farms located in the Garcia Rovira region and Onzaga municipality. The overall seroprevalence for liver fluke F. hepatica in cattle and sheep from the region under study was 37.9% (180/474, CI95% 33.5-46.2). Table 1 presents the seroprevalence values in cattle and sheep with different potential risk factors. The serological prevalence in cattle was 32.5% (94/289, 95%CI 27.4% - 38.1%), while in sheep, it was 46.5% (86/185, 95%CI 40.1% - 54.5%). No human sera were positive for F. hepatica infection. Chi-square tests revealed a statistical association (X2 = 46.1, p<0.05) between seroprevalence values in cattle and the four municipalities: 51.2% (21/41) in Concepcion, 6.3% (6/96) in San Andres, 46.2% (24/52) in Cerrito, and 43% (43/100) in Onzaga municipality. The highest seroprevalence was observed in Concepcion municipality. Age category analysis showed that the youngest cattle (<12 months) had the highest seropositivity (44.4%), although there was no statistical significance (p>0.05) regarding age. Among the other variables in cattle, F. hepatica showed statistically significant associations (p<0.05) with sex, pasture management, water source, and animal mixture. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in females (34.9%), in alternated grazing management (32.9%), when cattle drank water from the river (41.2%), and when cattle were mixed with sheep (63.3%).

Table 1
Seroprevalence values of anti-Fasciola hepatica antibodies in cattle and sheep with different potential risk factors in the Santander department, Colombia (univariate analysis).

In sheep, statistically significant associations were found (X2 = 48.5, p<0.05) between seroprevalence results and municipalities: 28.6% (20/70) in Concepcion, 0% (0/21) in San Andres, and 70.2% (66/94) in Cerrito (Table 1). The highest seroprevalence was observed in Cerrito municipality. Regarding age and sex, different percentages of parasitism were observed in sheep, suggesting statistical significance (p<0.05). F. hepatica also showed statistically significant associations (p<0.05) with alternated grazing management, sheep drinking water from the spring, and sheep mixed with cattle. However, there was no statistical association (p>0.05) between seroprevalence and feces management in sheep (Table 1).

The percentage of positive fecal samples in cattle was 33.7% (98/290, 95%CI 28.9% – 39.7%), and in sheep, it was 47.7% (86/180, 95%CI 40.1% – 54.5%). The coprological prevalence was higher (p<0.05) in cattle from Onzaga municipality (47.5%, 95%CI 37.9% - 57.2%) than those from the Garcia Rovira region (27%, 95%CI 21.2% - 33.7%). Of the total number of examined animals, 86 sheep were positive by both serology and coprology, while 77 cattle were positive in both tests.

Regarding risk factors in catle (Table 2), female showed 2.5 (OR = 2.5, CI95% = 1.08-5.4) times higher risk of infection than male. Pasture management alternated and animal mixture (yes) showed 6.5 (OR = 6.5, CI95% = 1.9-22.1) and 4.3 (OR = 4.3, CI95% = 1.9-9.3) times higher probability for infection with liver fluke, respectively. With respect to sheep (Table 3), female and animals from Cerrito municipality showed 2.3 (OR=2.3, CI95% = 0.9-5.8) and 10.5 (OR = 10.5, CI95% = 3.9-28.1) times higher probability for infection, respectively.

Table 2
Results of a multivariable regression logistic analysis for Fasciola hepatica infections in cattle in the Santander department, Colombia.
Table 3
Results of a multivariable regression logistic analysis for Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep in the Santander department, Colombia.

Discussion

Liver fluke F. hepatica is a helminth parasite presents around the world which causes a chronic disease that affect the liver and bile ducts on ruminants and a variety of mammals including humans (Ichikawa-Seki et al., 2017Ichikawa-Seki M, Shiroma T, Kariya T, Nakao R, Ohari Y, Hayashi K, et al. Molecular characterization of Fasciola flukes obtained from wild sika deer and domestic cattle in Hokkaido, Japan. Parasitol Int 2017; 66(5): 519-521. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2017.04.005. PMid:28396295.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2017....
). Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the seroprevalence of F. hepatica in ruminants and humans from the Garcia Rovira region and Onzaga municipality, department of Santander, Colombia.

The overall seroprevalence in study area was 37.9%, being 46.5% in sheep and 32.5% in cattle. In García Rovira region, the seroprevalence was 26.9% in cattle and 46.5% in sheep, while the seroprevalence in cattle from the Onzaga municipality was 43%. These results agree with those reported by (Giraldo Forero et al., 2016Giraldo Forero JC, Díaz Anaya AM, Pulido Medellín MO. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica en bovinos sacrificados en la planta de beneficio del municipio de Une, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Rev Investig Vet Peru 2016; 27(4): 751-757. http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v27i4.12572.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15381/rivep.v27i4.1...
; Chaparro et al., 2016Chaparro JJ, Ramírez NF, Villar D, Fernandez JA, Londoño J, Arbeláez C, et al. Survey of gastrointestinal parasites, liver flukes and lungworm in feces from dairy cattle in the high tropics of Antioquia, Colombia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2016; 1(2): 124-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2016.05.001. PMid:29988219.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2016....
; Pinilla et al., 2019Pinilla JC, Uribe Delgado N, Florez AA. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle and sheep in three municipalities in the Colombian Northeastern Mountain. Vet World 2019; 12(1): 48-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2019.48-54. PMid:30936653.
http://dx.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2019...
, 2020aPinilla JC, Florez AA, Orlandoni G, Tobón JC, Ortíz D. Current status of prevalence and risk factors associated with liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle raised in different altitudinal regions of Colombia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020a; 22: 100487. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100487. PMid:33308760.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.1...
, bPinilla JC, Muñoz AAF, Uribe Delgado N. Prevalence and risk factors associated with liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep in three municipalities in the Colombian Northeastern Mountains. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020b; 19: 100364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100364. PMid:32057392.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.1...
) who reported similar seroprevalence results in ruminants raised in Colombian farms located > 2000 masl. Equally, the results obtained were similar to those of some other studies conducted in Peru and Venezuela, which described similar results in cattle farms located > 2000 masl (Ticona et al., 2010Ticona D, Chávez A, Casas G, Chavera CA, Li E. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica en bovinos y ovinos de Vilcashuamán, Ayacucho. Rev Investig Vet Peru 2010; 21(2): 168-174.; Gauta et al., 2011Gauta J, Pérez A, Lecuna J, García M, Aguirre A, Armas S. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica en ganadería de altura en Bailadores Mérida, Venezuela. Rev Electrón Vet 2011; 12(12): 1-8.). Nevertheless, the results obtained differ to those informed by other authors, who reported lower prevalence results in cattle from Venezuela and Colombia (Angulo-Cubillán et al., 2013Angulo-Cubillán F, Chacín E, Sánchez A, Calle M, Zambrano S, Montero M, et al. Detección de anticuerpos IgG frente a Fasciola hepatica en un rebaño bovino criollo limonero del municipio Mara, estado Zulia, Venezuela. Rev Cient (Maracaibo) 2013; 23(6): 471-474.; Recalde-Reyes et al., 2014Recalde-Reyes DP, Sanabria LP, Giraldo Giraldo MI, Toro Segovia LJ, Gonzalez MM, Castaño Osorio JC. Prevalencia de Fasciola hepatica, en humanos y bovinos en el departamento del Quindío-Colombia 2012-2013. Infectio 2014; 18(4): 153-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infect.2014.09.001.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infect.2014....
; Pinilla et al., 2018Pinilla JC, Flórez P, Sierra MT, Morales E, Sierra R, Vásquez MC, et al. Point prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in double purpose cattle of Rio de Oro and Aguachica municipalities, Cesar state, Colombia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2018; 12: 26-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.01.003. PMid:31014803.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.0...
), and sheep from Boyaca, Colombia (Pulido-Medellin et al., 2014Pulido-Medellin MOI, García-Corredor D, Díaz-Anaya A, Andrade-Becerra R. Pesquisa de parásitos gastrointestinales en pequeñas explotaciones ovinas del municipio de Toca, Colombia. Rev Salud Anim 2014; 36(1): 65-69.).

The region under study shows optimal climatological conditions for the viability of Lymnaeidae snails and develop of the infection by F. hepatica for the animals. Therefore, grazing animals favor the presence of the trematode, due the animals are exposed to the infectious stages (Valderrama, 2016Valderrama AA. Prevalence of fascioliosis in polygastric animals in Peru, 1985-2015. Rev Med Vet 2016; 32(2): 121-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.19052/mv.3861.
http://dx.doi.org/10.19052/mv.3861...
). According to Pereira et al. (2020)Pereira AE, Uribe N, Pointier JP. Lymnaeidae from Santander and bordering departments of Colombia: morphological characterization, molecular identification and natural infection with Fasciola hepatica. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2020; 20: 100408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100408. PMid:32448524.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.1...
the Lymnaeidae snails has been reported in these areas of Colombia, since these areas have crystalline water and aquatic plants as watercress (Nasturtium officinale) necessary for the transmission of the parasite (Giraldo Pinzpón & Álvarez Mejía, 2013). Therefore, these plants serve as source of infection of metacercariae, which it perpetuates the parasitic infection in the farms (Mas-Coma et al., 2001Mas-Coma S, Funatsu IR, Bargues MD. Fasciola hepatica and lymnaeid snails occurring at very high altitude in South America. Parasitology 2001;123(7): 115-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182001008034. PMid:11769277.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182001008...
; Giraldo-Pinzón et al., 2016Giraldo-Pinzón E, Cárdenas JP, Marín SA, Villalba SL. Prevalencia de Fasciolosis bovina en una zona de Caldas, Colombia con evidencias de la enfermedad. Rev UDCA Actual Divulg Cient 2016; 19(1): 139-148.). Mas-Coma et al. (2001)Mas-Coma S, Funatsu IR, Bargues MD. Fasciola hepatica and lymnaeid snails occurring at very high altitude in South America. Parasitology 2001;123(7): 115-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182001008034. PMid:11769277.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182001008...
indicated that F. hepatica has been informed in farms located above 2000 masl, where there is a humid forest climate with the water temperatures around 10° C. Therefore, the presence of F. hepatica in ruminants depend mainly in factors like low temperature and long periods of rain necessary for the presence of snails and the circulation of liver fluke among agricultural communities, representing a food safety problem. Despite there are no reports on livers confiscation in the study region, the high seroprevalence results of liver fluke F. hepatica found in ruminants could be a big reason to performed on public health research of the trematode in the region.

Regarding risk factors in cattle, female showed higher probability for infection than male (OR= 2.5) (Table 2). Probably, situations of stress in cows due to heat, calving, lactating and weaning cause immunosuppression and increased parasitic infection rate (Odeón & Romera, 2017Odeón MM, Romera SA. Estrés en ganado: causas y consecuencias. Rev Vet 2017; 28(1): 69-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.30972/vet.2811556.
http://dx.doi.org/10.30972/vet.2811556...
). Cattle living with an alternated grazing management showed 6.5 times higher risk infection with F. hepatica than animals grazing in rotative pasture, due alternative grazing consists of changing animals from different pastures. On the other hand, rotative grazing consists of dividing a paddock into two parts of similar dimensions, so that the animals graze on one part of the paddock, while the other remains at rest. This management can limit the contamination of the pasture and can be an option to use strategic treatments to reduce the levels of infection by snails (Knubben-Schweizer & Torgerson, 2015Knubben-Schweizer G, Torgerson P. Bovine fasciolosis: control strategies based on the location of Galba truncatula habitats on farms. Vet Parasitol 2015; 208(1-2): 77-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.12.019. PMid:25596803.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014....
). Cattle grazing pasture with sheep showed higher probability of risk than when were alone. Although sheep showed higher prevalence (46.5%) than cattle (32.5%) in this study, the mixture of both species can act as a risk factor, due sheep are more susceptible to be infected by liver fluke F. hepatica, since this animal species do not develop resistance against new infections, and therefore contributes permanently to disseminate the infections for a long time (Olaechea, 2007Olaechea F. Enfermedades parasitarias de los ovinos y otros rumiantes menores en el Cono Sur de América. La Pampa: Ediciones INTA; 2007.).

Even though people in García Rovira region and Onzaga municipality lives in endemic animal fasciolosis areas, human infection with F. hepatica was no found in this study area. However, during the sampling it was evident that the water source for people was not the same as for the animals, and in most cases the families took the water from some source of water near the farm, where the animals had no access. On the other hand, snails were not found in watercress and other vegetables, but only in the water sources where the animals consumed. Despite open-air water irrigation channels to supply homes are considered the primary source of infection for human fascioliasis in endemic areas (Marcos et al., 2005Marcos L, Maco V, Terashima A, Samalvides F, Espinoza J, Gotuzzo E. Fascioliasis in relatives of patients with Fasciola hepatica infection in Peru. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 2005; 47(4): 219-222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652005000400008. PMid:16138205.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652005...
), the area studied had no water circulation system that avoid mollusk development, and this could be a reason for the low prevalence rate of snails in the study area. The common water source for human and animal consumption does not necessarily imply that there is the same risk for humans and livestock. Water can have the same origin (aqueduct, cistern, spring), but the cycle is only completed when that water is established in places where snails can develop. Similarly, this water must be susceptible to contamination with fecal matter from infected animals. Therefore, although the water source can be the same, the cycle is only completed in the irrigation canals, drinking fountains, ponds, wells and other places where the consumers are animals.

Conclusion

The presence of antibodies anti- F. hepatica (37.9%) in cattle and sheep of the region under study is confirmed, which suggests an endemic behavior of this parasitosis, and therefore represents a problem of food security and public health for rural communities.

Acknowledgements

We want to thank the Universidad de Santander and the Universidad Industrial for financing this research.

  • How to cite: Uribe Delgado N, Pereira AE, Martínez RA, Muñoz AAF, Pinilla JC. Seroprevalence and coprological prevalence of liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in cattle and sheep from Santander department, Colombia. Braz J Vet Parasitol 2023; 32(4): e009923. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612023071

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    04 Dec 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    29 June 2023
  • Accepted
    02 Oct 2023
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