Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a coproprevalência de Fasciola hepatica em equinos chilenos (Equus caballus), residentes na província de Concepción, região de Bío-Bío, Chile. O estudo foi realizado durante o mês de outubro de 2017. Foram coletadas amostras de todos os equinos estabulados (124 espécimes; 45 fêmeas e 79 machos, com idades entre 7 meses e 24 anos) da província de Concepción. Uma amostra de fezes transretal foi obtida de cada animal, analisada no Laboratório “Dr. Luis Rubilar”, da Universidad de Concepción, usando-se a técnica AMS III, para detectar a presença de ovos de F. hepatica. O diagnóstico fecal foi complementado com informações sobre a idade do animal, sexo, aplicação prévia de fasciolicida e uma avaliação da condição corporal. Testes de Fisher foram realizados para analisar os resultados. Dos 124 equinos, 10 (8,06%) foram positivos para ovos de F. hepatica. Não foi encontrada associação significativa entre idade, sexo, aplicação prévia de fasciolicida ou condição corporal com a presença de ovos. Um cavalo tratado com triclabendazol foi positivo para ovos de F. hepatica.

Abstract The aim of this research was to assess the copro-prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in owned Chilean breed horses (Equus caballus) residing in the province of Concepción, Chile. The study was carried out throughout October 2017. Samples were taken from all (100%) Chilean breed horse (124 specimens; 45 females and 79 males, aged between 7 months and 24 years old) from the Concepción province. A rectal stool sample was obtained from each animal. This was analyzed using the Army Medical School method (AMS III) technique to detect F. hepatica eggs. Information about the horse’s age, sex, previous fasciolicide application, and an assessment of body condition was also obtained. Fisher tests were carried out to analyze the results. Ten horses (8.06%) were positive for the presence of F. hepatica eggs. No significant difference of copro-prevalence was found between age (young 8.47%, old 7.69%), sex (female 11.1%, male 6.33%), the previous application of fasciolicide (dewormed 10%, not dewormed 7.89%), or body condition (low condition 11.1%, high condition 0.7%) categories (Fisher tests: P>0.05 in all cases). The results of this study suggest that Chilean breed horses constitute part of the reservoir of F. hepatica for both ruminant populations and humans in the Concepción province.

Canine gastrointestinal parasites pose a zoonotic infection risk, particularly in rural areas, causing infections in the gastrointestinal track, skin, viscera, eyes or nervous system, and even causing death in some cases. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites, focusing on zoonotic parasites, in dogs of the county of Cabrero (Biobío Region, Chile), and the responsible pet owner behaviors associated with zoonotic transmission to humans. A total of 93 houses were surveyed and feces of dogs were examined for protozoa and helminths. Fisher tests and Mann-Whitney tests were used to determine differences between rural and urban areas of the variables under study. The relationship between preventive management practices (vaccination, deworming, feeding and medical checkup) and absence of parasites in feces was analyzed using logistic regressions. There was a mean of 1.28 dogs per house. Responsible pet ownership behaviors were less frequent in rural than in urban areas. Deworming was conducted in 58.1% of houses, while the other preventive management practices were less frequent. Dogs of 51.6% of the houses were parasitized with taxa: Isospora sp., Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara canis, Ancylostomatidae Gen. sp and Taeniidae Gen. sp. Deworming was the only practice associated with the presence of parasites. Only Isospora sp. is not a zoonotic parasite. There is a risk of zoonotic helminth infection from dogs to inhabitants of Cabrero.

Las parasitosis intestinales de perros revisten riesgo de zoonosis, particularmente en áreas agrícolas, produciendo en humanos cuadros a nivel gastrointestinal, cutáneo, visceral, ocular o neurológico, pudiendo algunos ser letales. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la frecuencia de parásitos gastrointestinales en los perros de la comuna de Cabrero, Región del Biobío, Chile, con mayor enfoque en aquéllos zoonóticos, y analizar las conductas de tenencia asociadas con su riesgo de transmisión a humanos. Se visitaron 93 viviendas, sus jefes de hogar fueron encuestados y las heces de sus perros fueron analizadas en busca de parásitos. Se evaluaron diferencias en las variables consultadas entre áreas rurales y urbanas con pruebas de Fisher y Mann-Whitney. Se evaluó la asociación entre conductas preventivas (vacunación, desparasitación, alimentación, atención veterinaria), y presencia de parásitos en heces utilizando regresiones logísticas. Se registró en promedio 1,28 perros por vivienda. Las conductas asociadas con tenencia responsable fueron menos frecuentes en áreas rurales que urbanas. En el 58,1% de las viviendas los perros recibieron desparasitación interna; las otras conductas preventivas fueron menos frecuentes. El 51,6% de las viviendas presentaron perros parasitados; seis taxa fueron identificadas: Isospora sp., Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara canis, Ancylostomatidae Gen. sp. y Taeniidae Gen. sp. La desparasitación interna de perros fue la única conducta asociada con la presencia de parásitos. Sólo Isospora sp. no reviste riesgo de zoonosis. Existe riesgo de infección por helmintos zoonóticos del perro en los habitantes de Cabrero.

Introduction: Squares and public areas are mentioned frequently as source of infections by Toxocara sp. for people. There is no study of the presence of Toxocara sp. eggs in soils of the city of Chillán, Chile. Aims: To assess the presence of toxocara eggs in the soils of public areas of Chillán. Material and Methods: 43 public areas were studied in January of 2014. Samples were processed by sedimentation-flotation method. In addition, two positive control assays were performed: one with feces contaminated with Toxocara eggs mixed with soil; and the other leaving the feces on the soil and then analyzing this soil. Results: No Toxocara eggs were detected in public areas, but they were found in both positive control assays. Discussion: Several factors, including seasonality (summer) and the frequency of the cleaning of the areas, may explain this result, which cannot be interpreted necessarily as a lack of risk, but instead as a low risk, if it exists, given the possibility that the load may be low enough as to be undetectable.

Introducción: Las áreas públicas se mencionan frecuentemente como fuente de infección por Toxocara sp. para la población. En la ciudad de Chillán no se han realizado estudios de la presencia de huevos de Toxocara sp. en suelos de áreas públicas. Objetivos: Evaluar la presencia de huevos de Toxocara en suelos de áreas públicas de la ciudad de Chillán. Material y Método: Se evaluaron 43 áreas públicas en enero de 2014, analizándose sus suelos mediante el método de sedimentación-flotación. Además se realizaron dos ensayos como controles positivos, uno con una mezcla de heces positivas a huevos de Toxocara y suelo, luego se analizó la mezcla, y el otro dejando heces positivas sobre el suelo, y luego analizando sólo el suelo. Resultados: No se detectaron huevos de Toxocara en las muestras de áreas públicas, pero sí se encontraron en ambos controles positivos. Discusión: Diversos factores, incluyendo la estacionalidad (verano) y la frecuencia de la limpieza en las áreas, pueden explicar este resultado, el que no debe ser interpretado necesariamente como una carencia de riesgo, sino más bien como un riesgo que de existir es escaso, dada la posibilidad que la carga sea lo suficientemente baja para no ser detectada.