Bovine cysticercosis: a retrospective survey in the mountainous Region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Abstract

Bovine cysticercosis disease is prevalent worldwide, and is diagnosed frequently in slaughterhouses. This disease has an impact on animal production and public health due to Taenia saginata. In order to investigate the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis in the mountainous region of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, we performed a retrospective survey of beef carcasses that were positive for the parasite. We tabulated and analyzed the records of cattle that were slaughtered from 2003 to 2013, under the state inspection in Lages, Santa Catarina. These records were provided by Companhia Integrada de Desenvolvimento Agrícola de Santa Catarina (CIDASC). The data were analyzed using Chi-square test (P ≤ 0.05) to correlate the cysticerci occurrence with the independent variables. The animals were from the 18 municipalities that represent Associação dos Municípios da Região Serrana (AMURES). Among the animals that were slaughtered during the study period, 7.06% (1698/24055) were confirmed positive for cysticercosis during the visual inspection. Among the total cysts that were inspected, 25.79% and 74.20% were classified as viable and calcified, respectively. The most frequently parasitized organs were the head, with 876 cases (51.59%) positive for cysticerci (321 [36.64%] . In addition to the generalized infection (4.48%), the tongue and the diaphragm were the next most commonly parasitized organs, with 3.71% and 2.47% cases positive for cysticerci, respectively. There was no correlation (P > 0.05) between sex or age, and positive infection or cyst location. We identified statistical variations among the results for each of the evaluated years (P < 0.01). These reports indicated a significant increase in the infection rate over time, from 4.58% (2005) to 9.94% (2013). We analyzed the correlation (P < 0.01) between the occurrence of cysticercosis and the origin of the animals as well as between the viability of cysts and their location in the body. These results suggest that the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis in the mountainous region of Santa Catarina is high and at an alarming rate. Bovine cysticercosis can lead to an economic loss and can endanger public health. Therefore, government agencies need to plan and implement measures in order to control this disease. 36%)], e coração com 641 notificações (37,75%) [sendo 54 cisticercos viáveis (8,42%) e 587 inviáveis (91,58%)], seguidos de localização generalizada, língua e diafragma com 4,48%, 3,71% e 2,47%, respectivamente. Não foi observada correlação (P > 0,05) entre sexo ou idade com a positividade e a localização dos cistos. Diferença estatística foi observada entre anos avaliados (P < 0,01), tendo a ocorrência variado de 4,58% (2005) a 9,94% (2013), indicando um aumento dos registros ao longo do tempo. Foi verificada correlação (P < 0,01) entre a ocorrência de cisticercose e a procedência dos animais assim como entre a viabilidade dos cistos e sua localização. A ocorrência da cisticercose bovina na região serrana de Santa Catarina é alta e alarmante, que po...

Relationship between early finishing and reduced prevalence of cysticercosis in cattle

“…This zoonosis can show two distinct forms: taeniasis, which affects humans; and cysticercosis, which is caused by the presence of Cysticercus bovis (the larval stage of Taenia saginata) in bovine tissues (MAGALHÃES et al, 2017). This disease has an impact on animal production and public health (PADILHA et al, 2018).…”