TY - JOUR
T1 - Short report
T2 - Endemic focus of cystic echinococcosis in a coastal city of Peru
AU - Moro, Pedro L.
AU - Lopera, Luis
AU - Cabrera, Milagros
AU - Cabrera, Grace
AU - Silva, Bernabe
AU - Gilman, Robert H.
AU - Moro, Manuel H.
PY - 2004/9
Y1 - 2004/9
N2 - No evidence of Echinococcus granulosus infection has been described in the coastal region of Peru, with the exception of the capital city of Lima. Anecdotal evidence suggests the existence of a focus of echinococcosis in the coastal city of Chincha, located south of Lima. We conducted a preliminary epidemiologic study in Chincha, which included an ultrasound, chest radiography, and serologic survey of abattoir workers, a review of medical records from local hospitals, and examination of the intestines of stray dogs to determine the presence of canine echinococcosis. Among 25 abattoir workers examined for the presence of cystic echinococcosis, we found three (12%) subjects with echinococcal cysts. A review of medical records showed a surgical incidence of 32/100,000 for the period 1996-1998. Three of 48 dogs (6.25%) were found to be infected with E. granulosus tapeworms. This study demonstrates the existence of an undocumented endemic focus of E. granulosus previously unknown in the coastal region of Peru.
AB - No evidence of Echinococcus granulosus infection has been described in the coastal region of Peru, with the exception of the capital city of Lima. Anecdotal evidence suggests the existence of a focus of echinococcosis in the coastal city of Chincha, located south of Lima. We conducted a preliminary epidemiologic study in Chincha, which included an ultrasound, chest radiography, and serologic survey of abattoir workers, a review of medical records from local hospitals, and examination of the intestines of stray dogs to determine the presence of canine echinococcosis. Among 25 abattoir workers examined for the presence of cystic echinococcosis, we found three (12%) subjects with echinococcal cysts. A review of medical records showed a surgical incidence of 32/100,000 for the period 1996-1998. Three of 48 dogs (6.25%) were found to be infected with E. granulosus tapeworms. This study demonstrates the existence of an undocumented endemic focus of E. granulosus previously unknown in the coastal region of Peru.
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U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.2004.71.327
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.2004.71.327
M3 - Article
C2 - 15381815
AN - SCOPUS:4544249265
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 71
SP - 327
EP - 329
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 3
ER -