Survey and first molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (G1) in Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

SCIOSCIA N; PETRIGH RS; BELDOMENICO PM; FUGASSA M; DENEGRI GM

ACTA TROPICA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 158 p. 1 - 5

0001-706X

Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by tapeworms of the genusEchinococcus. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) has a world-widedistribution and its transmission is primarily maintained in asynanthropic cycle with dogs as definitive hosts and livestock species asintermediate hosts. However, many wild canids also function as definitivehosts for E. granulosus s. l. Echinococcosis in humans is mainly causedby E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.) G1 genotype. In the present work,we expanded the epidemiological study on echinococcosis reported cases inPampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) to provide a prevalence estimate forrural areas of southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Ninety-fivewhole intestines were analyzed using the sedimentation and countingtechnique with a result of 83 foxes (87.37%) harboring at least onehelminth species. Echinococcus granulosus s. l. adults were found in onePampas fox (1.05%). These adult helminthes were E. granulosus s. s. (G1)according to the genotyping analysis of a 450-bp region of themitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene.