Cystic Echinococcosis in Sardinia: Farmers’ knowledge and dog infection in sheep farms

Varcasia, Antonio; Tanda, B; Giobbe, M; Solinas, C.; Pipia, Anna Paola; Malgor, Ramiro; Carmona, Carlos; Garippa, Giovanni; Scala, Antonio

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.05.006

Cited by 74 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Where the benefits are not directly visible, even for activities that may seem easy and straightforward, more structural approaches are required. For example, Varcasia et al (2011) discussed the limitation of 20 years of CE education of sheep farmers in Sardinia using simple messages like 'do not practise home slaughter' and 'do not feed cysts to dogs.' They argued that the continued practice of home slaughter (which facilitated the feeding of offal to dogs) was due to the lack of an economic and policy framework to support farmers bringing older sheep (more likely to be infected) to local slaughterhouses in order to safely dispose of cysts.…”

Section: Control Of Cystic Echinococcosis In Morocco S109mentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic Encounters at the Slaughterhouse: Pathways and Possibilities for the Control of Cystic Echinococcosis in Northern Morocco

et al. 2016

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SummaryThis study traces the biosocial dynamics of Echinococcus granulosus – a zoonotic tapeworm spread between dogs, livestock and people – at slaughterhouses in Morocco. One of the most important parasitic zoonoses worldwide, this neglected cestode is responsible for a debilitating, potentially life-threatening, human disease and significant livestock production losses. Transmission can be interrupted, among other ways, by restricting dogs from eating cyst-infected livestock viscera. Recent epidemiological studies in Sidi Kacem province, northern Morocco, found that government-operated slaughterhouses were ‘hotspots’ for hydatid cysts in livestock and infection in dogs. An ethnographic approach was used to compliment these studies, exploring ‘how’ and ‘why’ cysts were being openly discarded. All seven visited slaughterhouses had low levels of hygiene, oversight and infrastructure. This was described locally as perpetuating a sense of ‘chaos’ that normalized (un)hygienic practices and justified the ignoring of state rules and regulations. However deference to ‘poor’ infrastructure, both physically and symbolically, served to under-emphasize local institutional logics, which were mediated by prevailing risk perceptions, economic practices and local socio-political norms. These included inter-departmental government relationships, the motivation of veterinary technicians, the political lobbying of butchers and market-based mitigation strategies. The study shows the importance of understanding E. granulosus from a biosocial perspective, and the need for more long-term, participatory and integrated ‘One Health’ approaches for neglected zoonotic diseases.

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Section: Control Of Cystic Echinococcosis In Morocco S109mentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoonotic Encounters at the Slaughterhouse: Pathways and Possibilities for the Control of Cystic Echinococcosis in Northern Morocco

et al. 2016

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“…Cerebral coenurosis is a disease of small ruminants bred with extensive methods [1,2]. The adult worm inhabits the small intestine of canids while the larval stage develops in the central nervous system (CNS) of ruminants [3,4].…”

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confidence: 99%

Clinical evolution of cerebral coenurosis from invasive to chronic infection in sheep and a goat

Evangelisti

Varcasia

Deiana

et al. 2016

J Infect Dev Ctries

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This survey describes the evolution in vivo of Coenurus cerebralis in small ruminants. At presentation, neurological signs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) features were suggestive of multifocal or diffuse inflammatory reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) captured the transition between the invasive and quiescent phase of the infection, revealing the concurrent presence of meningitis and small cysts. During the quiescent phase, in all animals, neurological symptoms disappeared, and cerebrospinal fluid was unremarkable while cysts grew progressively. Subsequently, the onset of neurological symptoms coincided with MRI signs of diffuse or localized increase of intracranial pressure, as confirmed by direct intracranial pressure measuring. All the animals had an excellent post-surgical recovery. This is the first report describing the evolution of coenurosis in vivo. Sequential imaging allowed describing interesting such as the death of some coenuri and different parasite growth rate in the same host.

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“…Furthermore, bovine illegal slaughter is substantially absent. Considering the low prevalence values (3-10%) encountered in dogs in the hyper-endemic region of Sardinia using the sensitive polyclonal and monoclonal enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems (Varcasia et al, 2011), the chances to find positive animals with copromicroscopic survey in the definitive host in the hypo-endemic Veneto region is very low, unless the target survey population is accurately selected as it was in this study. It is worth noting that it is important to include dogs used for shepherding traditionally managed sheep flocks in (or passing through) cluster areas, since it has clearly been demonstrated that sheep breeding has a key-role in maintaining and spreading the disease (Scala et al, 2004b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective and spatial analysis tools for integrated surveillance of cystic echinococcosis and bovine cysticercosis in hypo-endemic areas

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) and bovine cysticercosis (BC) are two important parasitic zoonoses, whose prevalence varies among European countries. Few data are available on prevalence and geographic distribution of these two diseases in Veneto region in north-eastern Italy, where they are generally perceived as minor public health problems. Available data from regional farms on cattle positive to CE and BC and slaughtered in the period 2006-2010 were analysed by spatial scan statistic using a Bernoulli probability model. Out of 576 bovines testing positive to CE, 467 were found to be autochthonous cases. Three significant CE clusters were identified, the most likely one (P <0.001) located in the eastern part of the Veneto region. As for BC, two clusters were identified from 148 animals testing positive, 91 of which were autochthonous. An epidemiological survey was conducted and the most likely CE cluster was centred, collecting faecal samples from 28 dogs living in the farms of the area. Out of five animals (all shepherd dogs) found positive for taenid eggs by copromicroscopy, one was confirmed positive for Echinococcus granulosus by means of polymerase chain reaction. The study demonstrates the usefulness of integration of slaughterhouse data and geographical coordinates of farms involved for effective surveillance of CE and BC. The reliability of the spatial analysis in the identification of clusters of EC cases was confirmed by the finding of one dog positive for E. granulosus.

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Cystic Echinococcosis in Sardinia: Farmers’ knowledge and dog infection in sheep farms

Cited by 74 publications

References 18 publications

Zoonotic Encounters at the Slaughterhouse: Pathways and Possibilities for the Control of Cystic Echinococcosis in Northern Morocco

Zoonotic Encounters at the Slaughterhouse: Pathways and Possibilities for the Control of Cystic Echinococcosis in Northern Morocco

Clinical evolution of cerebral coenurosis from invasive to chronic infection in sheep and a goat

Retrospective and spatial analysis tools for integrated surveillance of cystic echinococcosis and bovine cysticercosis in hypo-endemic areas

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