Fascioliasis in working mules in endemic Andean areas of Mendoza province, Argentina

LAURA SIDOTI; CUERVO, PABLO F.; LUCAS SBRIGLIO; FANTOZZI, M. CECILIA; DEIS, ERIKA; SOPHIA DI CATALDO; MERA Y SIERRA, ROBERTO

Melbourne

Congreso; XII International Congress of Parasitology ICOPA; 2010

ICOPA

In Latin America, fascioliasis an important livestock disease and major threat to human health (in Latin America only F. hepatica is present). Although fascioliasis is widely studied in several domestic species, in Argentina, the affection in equines, and particularly mules, is not even considered, thus not studied.Argentina has a quite remarkable tradition regarding mules, since they took part in every major event along its history: from an intense commerce during colonialism with several neighboring countries, crossing the Andes with the Ejército Libertador to fight against realists and liberate southern America from the Spanish oppression, to every transcendental conflict in the political conformation of such a wide and diverse nation. In Argentinean Andean regions, mules are considered the working animal by excellence. The greatest mule market ever was located in northern Argentina during XVI the century, exporting hundreds of thousands of them to Bolivia and Perú. Since those moments, mules are used in every activity in the Andes highlands. This study reveals that mules are infected not only with common equine parasites, but also with not expected Fasciola hepatica. Although this is a first approach to the problem, the question arises around the epidemiological role that mules may play in the transmission of F. hepatica to other susceptible animals and humans, particularly taking into account the transport of animals to working areas and the great distances they travel while being used.