Resumo

PARRA, Alberto et al. Evaluation of canine echinococcosis in the high mountain area of province of Tucumán, Argentina. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2017, vol.51, n.1, pp.133-137. ISSN 0325-2957.

Canine echinococcosis is a serious public health problem in Argentina. It is a parasite zoonosis produced by a cestode of the Taeniidae family, Echinococcus granulosus, the dog being the principal definite host. The objective of this work was to evaluate echinococcosis in dogs in the high mountain area of the province of Tucumán. The main economic activity in this area is livestock breeding, mostly sheep, for family consumption. Climate conditions, distances and the lack of adequate mobility make it difficult to access to health services and educational facilities. Six places of the region were evaluated. The first study was carried out with 103 samples of canine faeces, 39.8% (41/103) being positive. The study was repeated in two localities, after deworming dogs monthly for two years. In these areas, a decrease of positive specimens was obtained: in Chaquivil, variation was 57.1% to 10.0% and in San José de Chasquivil, it was 47.1% to 11.1%. These results lead to the conclusion that it would be necessary to conduct and plan control activities. The assessment of other locations would be of utmost importance.

Palavras-chave : Echinococcosis; Coproantigen; Prevalence; Surveillance; Control programmes.