Trichinellosis and toxoplasmosis in wild boars (Sus scrofa) of northern Patagonia, Argentina.

WINTER M; PASQUALETTI M; BIROCHIO D E; ALONSO B; ERCOLE M; CASTILLO M; VENERONI R; VENTURINI C; MORÉ G; ABATE S D; FARIÑA F; MARCOS A; PARDINI L; RIBICICH M M

Duchonka

Conferencia; Helminthologycal Day 2017; 2017

Slovak Society for Parasitology at SAS

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by the consumption of raw or undercooked meat with infective forms of nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Currently, the genus is composed of three genotypes, six encapsulated species, and three non-encapsulated species. The wide range of hosts of the genus includes more than 100 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, with wild carnivores and omnivores holding the parasite´s biomass. In Argentina, human outbreaks are generally related to the domestic pig cycle, however, in recent years there have been reports of the consumption of wild animals around the world. Toxoplasmosis is one of the major parasitic zoonosis worldwide, produced by the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Felines are their definitive hosts and different species of birds and mammals, domestic and wild, including man act as intermediary hosts. Among them, the parasite has developed several transmission routes, emphasizing the ingestion of cysts contained in muscle and animal viscera as a horizontal transmission route. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an exotic ungulate introduced in Argentina as a major game in the early twentieth century, which represents the second source of human trichinellosis infection worldwide. Likewise, there are studies that show the presence of toxoplasmosis in wild boars of different countries. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the circulation of Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars from an area of the northern Patagonia of Argentina. Samples were obtained from specimens derived of hunting activity. For the diagnosis of trichinellosis, 150 diaphragm samples were analyzed by Artificial Digestion (AD) and 83 serum samples by ELISA using the commercial IDvet excretory-secretory (I/S) antigen kit. For T. gondii antibody detection, 36 serum samples were evaluated by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT), using as antigen tachyzoites of the RH reference strain. From the sera analyzed, for trichinellosis, 2.41% (n=2) was positive. The diaphragm samples were negative. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 5/36 serum (13.51%), two were positive at the dilution 1:50 and three at ≥1:200. The existence of specimens with positive serology indicates the presence of trichinellosis, but the safety of the game pieces before consumption is given by the result of the Artificial Digestion. Nonetheless is very important analyzing game pieces before consumption, deepening health education actions in the exposed population and maintaining epidemiological monitoring in wildlife.