Neosporosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum, and is associated with high rates of abortion in cattle throughout the world. The aim of the study was to determinate the seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cattle reared in the districts of Molinopampa and Leymebamba, Chachapoyas province, Amazonas. The study was carried out in 2002 using 265 serum samples from cows older than 2 years old that belonged to 24 dairy herds. Samples were tested to detect antibodies against N. caninum using the IFAT test. The 40.4 ± 5.0% (107/265) of the samples had antibodies in 1:200 dilution. All sampled herds had at least one seropositive animal. The prevalence of the parasite was similar in both districts and similar to described in herds from other dairy areas in the country.

Se evaluó la presencia de enteropatógenos en 60 crías de alpacas de 1 a 2.5 meses de edad con cuadros mortales de diarrea de las regiones de Pasco y Junín, Perú. Se tomaron muestras de heces para determinar la frecuencia de Escherichia coli y Salmonella sp mediante microbiología convencional, de parásitos gastrointestinales por las técnicas de sedimentación y flotación, y de Criptosporidium sp mediante la técnica de Ziehl Neelsen Modificado. Además, se evidenció la presencia de antígenos virales con la ayuda de un kit comercial de inmunocromatografía. Se identificó E. coli (80%), coronavirus (53.3%), Eimeria sp (43.3%), Nematodirus sp (40%), rotavirus (36.6%), Criptosporidium sp (20%) y Salmonella sp (18.3%). Asimismo, se determinó que el 38.3% de los animales presentó los tres tipos de patógenos, mientras que el 23.3% presentó asociación de bacterias y parásitos, y el 11.7% presentó asociación de virus y bacterias.

RESUMENEl trabajo tuvo por objetivo identificar y describir las lesiones ocasionadas por helmintos en tortugas motelo (Chelonoidis denticulata). Se colectaron 40 tractos gastrointestinales de tortugas en el mercado de Belén, Iquitos, Perú, donde esta especie es comercializada como carne de consumo. El análisis macroscópico mostró que el 42.5, 70.0 y 100% de los estómagos, intestino delgado e intestino grueso, respectivamente, se encontraban parasitados o presentaban cambios patológicos de posible origen parasitario como nódulos, áreas de coloración negruzca, úlceras, perforaciones, engrosamiento, congestión y focos hemorrágicos. Se identificaron 11 especies de helmintos: Labiduris gulosa, Labiduris zschokkei, Labiduris irineuta, Atractis marquezi, Klossinemella travassosi, Sauricola sauricola, Chapiniella variabilis, Angusticaecum holopterum y Ophidascaris arndti (Nematoda), y Halltrema avitellina y Helicotrema spirale (Trematoda). Histológicamente, se evidenció la invasión de las cuatro túnicas gastrointestinales por estructuras parasitarias compatibles con H. avitellina (y sus huevos), C. variabilis, S. sauricola y una especie no determinada de atractídeo, rodeadas principalmente por exudados inflamatorios compuestos de eosinófilos, células gigantes, linfocitos y tejido conjuntivo. Asimismo, se observó la presencia de infiltrado eosinofílico en la mucosa como respuesta al contacto con O. arndti y H. spirale. Los resultados indican que todos los individuos presentaron lesiones parasitarias en intestino grueso, siendo la mayoría de grado severo, mientras que las lesiones en estómago e intestino delgado fueron mayormente de grado moderado y leve.

Canine Heartworm Disease is a parasitic disease caused by the nematode Dirofilaria immitis. The adult forms are found mainly in the pulmonary arteries and the right heart of canids. This nematode is transmitted by intermediate hosts which are blood suckling mosquitoes. Canine Ehrlichiosis is a disease of domestic and wild canids, caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis, that infects mononuclear cells. This microorganism is transmitted by an arthropod vector, the brown dog-tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The objective of this assay was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Chorrillos, La Molina and San Juan de Miraflores districts, which are adjacent to naturally stagnated waters. Blood samples were taken from 140 dogs chosen randomly without regard of breed, age and sex from February to May, 2001. The diagnosis was made by the detection of the D.immitis antigen and antibodies against E. canis, using a commercial ELISA kit. The results showed an expected prevalence of 4.4% for D. immitis and 16.5% for E. canis. This study is the first report detecting antibodies against E. canis in Peru.

The ocurrence of Diphyllobothriidae plerocercoids larval and Anisakidae larva infections in five commercial sea fishes Trachurus symmetricus murphyi "jurel", Sarda sarda chiliensis "bonito", Mugil cephalus "lisa", Odontesthes regia regia "pejerrey" and Sciaena deliciosa "loma"; was evaluated. The specimens were collected at Callao between April and June 1997. The frequency of Diphyllobothrium sp. larvae was 4.29% (3170) in Jurel and of Anisakidae larvae was 8.6% (6170), 47 .1 % (33170) and 20% ( 14/ 70) in jurel, bonito and lisa, respectively. The Anisakidae larvae were Anisakis simplex (Anisakis Type 1 larva), Anisakis physeteris (Anisakis Type 11 larva), Hysterothylacium aduncum and Contracaecum sp. Other parasite larval identified included Corynosoma obtuscens, Tentacularia coryphaenae, Nybelinia sp. and Proletus sp.

The aim of this study was to determine the Giardia sp. prevalence in household dog populations on the six districts of the Provincia Constitucional del Callao. Fecal samples were collected from 385 apparently healthy dogs of various ages and processed by the spontaneous sedimentation technique. The results indicated the 9.4 ± 2% (36/385) of the canine population were positive to Giardia sp. cysts. Relationships between cysts detection and fecal samples characteristics, and origin, sex and age of dogs were analyzed by logistic regression. A significant statistical relationship was found between Giardia sp. detection and physical characteristics of fecal samples. Results show a moderate Giardia sp. infection in dogs which evidences a zoonotic risk that highlight the necessity of setting up educational programmes in order to prevent Giardia sp. Transmission, especially to infant population.

A total of 478 fecal samples taken from healthy alpaca crias aged 1-90 days at Centro de Investigación y Producción (CIP-La Raya), Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, were processed by the sedimentation and flotation technique in saturated sugar solution to detect oocysts and by the McMaster method to determine oocysts per gram (OPG) of fecal sample. Eimeria spp were present in 418 (87.5%) of the samples with a mean of 24,017 OPG (CI of 7,534 and range 50-1,202,400). The most frequent species were E. lamae (60.4%), E. macusaniensis (50.4%), E. alpacae (45.6%), E. punoensis (30%), and E. ivitaensis (6.24%). Parasite load increased with age, 50% of 24 samples at 1-30 days were positive with an average load of 17,216 OPG, at 31-45 days 93% of 82 (28,501 OPG), at 46-60 days 85% of 144 (34,731 OPG), at 61-75 days 94% of 183 (6,564 OPG) and at 76-90 days 80% of 45 with 17,376 OPG. E. lamae comprised 41% of all coccidian oocysts at 1-30 days and the highest rate of infection (66.7%) was reached at 46-60 days, whereas E. macusaniensis was present in only 4.2% of crias at 1-30 days, but peaked (65.6%) at 61-75 days. Double, triple, and quadruple infections were found in 28.2, 28.2, and 11.2% of positive samples respectively. The coexistence of E. lamae with E. alpacae and, E. lamae with E. macusaniensi infection were common in double infections, whereas E. lamae, E. alpacae and E. macusaniensis were mainly found in triple infections, and E. lamae, E. alpacae, E. punoensis and E. macusaniensis in quadruple infections. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age range of 1-30 days (OR=1.19, CI 95%: 0.08-0.48), 61-75 days (OR=2.49, CI 95%: 1.22-5.04) and separation of offsprings (OR=0.2, CI 95%: 0.08-0.48) were associated with Eimeria spp infection.

The objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in alpacas of communities from the districts of Maranganí, Pitumarca, Checacupe and San Pablo, located in the province of Canchis, department of Cusco. A total of 272 blood samples were collected in March 2003, for the detection of antibodies against T. gondii by the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). The resulting seroprevalence was 35.7 ± 5.7%, without significant differences due to district, sex, and breed; however, there was a significant association between age and IFAT value. The results of the present study agreed with other studies conducted in South American camelids in different localities in the south of Peru. Key words: serology, toxoplasmosis, South American camelids, IFAT, Cusco RESUMENEl objetivo del estudio fue cuantificar la seroprevalencia de Toxoplasma gondii en alpacas de comunidades alpaqueras de los distritos de Maranganí, Pitumarca, Checacupe y San Pablo, en la provincia de Canchis, Cusco. Se recolectaron 272 muestras de sangre en marzo del 2003 para la detección de anticuerpos contra T. gondii mediante la prueba de inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI). Se encontró una seroprevalencia moderada de 35.7 ± 5.7%. No se encontró asociación entre las variables distrito, sexo, raza y la respuesta a la prueba de IFI. Sin embargo, se encontró una asociación significativa entre la edad y la respuesta a la prueba. La seroprevalencia del presente estudio concuerda con resultados obtenidos en camélidos sudamericanos en otras zonas del sur del Perú.