NaturalFasciola hepaticaInfection in Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in Uruguay

Abstract

Fascioliasis, the zoonotic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is expanding worldwide, with a 17 million people at risk. Rodents, often recognized as a major source of zoonotic diseases, are affected by F. hepatica, with some species playing important roles in the disease epidemiology. The case reported here in a nutria or kiyá (Myocastor coypus) is the first documented case of F. hepatica in this species in Uruguay. Parasitic burden and total egg production detected are markedly higher than reported previously for this species, confirming its potential role as an effective reservoir and disseminator of liver flukes. Although further research is needed, nutria should be considered when designing effective control programs for fascioliasis.

Histopathological findings of Fasciola hepatica infection in non-native European hare (Lepus europaeus) in Southern Chile

“…Regarding morphometric data, the values are similar in comparison to those from hares reported by Cuervo et al (2015). Unfortunately, descriptions of flukes from wild mammals are focused mainly in length and width (COURTIN et al, 1979;MÉNARD et al, 2001;SANTARÉM et al, 2006;GAYO et al, 2011), probably because its typical shape which is used as the most important diagnosis criteria. In spite of the above, there is evidence of environmental and host influence over the morphology of flukes and its eggs (VALERO et al, 2001(VALERO et al, , 2012PERIAGO et al, 2006;MAS-COMA et al, 2007), thus is important to record these data to a better understanding of the parasite development.…”

“…The present survey together with previous reports from European rabbits, highlight the role of both lagomorphs as wild reservoirs for animal and human fascioliasis in the country (COURTIN et al, 1975;ALCAÍNO et al, 1988). On the other hand, there is a need of parasitological surveys from protected native ruminants such as Taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis), Huemul (H. bisulcus) and Pudu (P. puda), and threatened native marsupials and rodents (see JAKSIC et al, 2002;MUÑOZ-PEDREROS & YAÑEZ, 2009) which could act as definitive hosts as well (MÉNARD et al, 2000(MÉNARD et al, , 2001SANTARÉM et al, 2006;GAYO et al, 2011;MENDES et al, 2012;FUGASSA, 2015;LABRUNA et al, 2018). This information, combined with histopathological analysis when possible, would allow to assess the potential threat of this fluke to the health of these native mammals.…”

Human fascioliasis infection sources, their diversity, incidence factors, analytical methods and prevention measures

“…Unexpected problems of contamination of watercress cultures due to disease spread by an introduced sylvatic reservoir animal as the nutria (Menard et al, 2001;Houin et al, 2004) appeared related to the emergence of human fascioliasis in concrete areas of France. It was up to this rodent species Myocastor coypus, originally of South America where it already proved to be a good definitive host for the liver fluke (Gayo et al, 2011), to unexpectedly spread F. hepatica eggs in watercress beds made in the way to avoid contamination from ruminants. The aforementioned fascioliasis emergence was described as the first epidemic due to the ingestion of cultivated watercress (Mailles et al, 2003(Mailles et al, , 2006.…”

Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) naturally infecting introduced European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in northern Patagonia: phenotype, prevalence and potential risk

“…Though scarcely considered, it is known that wildlife species may play a significant role as reservoirs of fascioliasis (Mas-Coma et al 1988;Daszak et al 2000;Bengis et al 2004;Kruse et al 2004;Polley 2005;Gayo et al 2011;Mezo et al 2013). Introduced non-indigenous species (NIS) are widely recognized as a source of disease (Daszak et al 2000;Kelly et al 2009).…”