Echinococcosis hyper-endemic and cystic fertility in pigs of the Inter-Andean Valley of Huancarama, Peru

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine the percentage of echinococcosis infection in swine, cystic fertility and associated factors. Cross-sectional study. The population was formed by 579 pigs slaughtered in the slaughterhouse of Huancarama. Hydatid cysts were detected by postmortem evaluation. Fertility was determined by measuring the diameter of the cysts and microscopically observing the germinative membrane in search of protoscoleces. The percentage of cystic echinococcosis infection was 76.7% (CI 95%: 73.2-80.3). Pigs older than two years were more likely to have cysts (RP 1.03; CI 95%: 1.0-1.1; (P < 0.01), as well as those coming from the Andahuaylas district (RP 1.2; CI 95%: 1.1-1.4; P < 0.01). Lung cysts showed a lower percentage of infection than hepatic ones. We examined 346 hydatid cysts of 334 pigs, a total fertility of 42.8% was found (CI 95%: 37.4-48.1).