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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 71(3), 2004, pp. 327-329
Copyright © 2004 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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SHORT REPORT: ENDEMIC FOCUS OF CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN A COASTAL CITY OF PERU

PEDRO L. MORO, LUIS LOPERA, MILAGROS CABRERA, GRACE CABRERA, BERNABE SILVA, ROBERT H. GILMAN, AND MANUEL H. MORO
Asociacion Benefica PRISMA, Lima, Peru; Public Health Section, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad San Antonio de Gonzaga de Ica, Ica, Peru; Department of Radiology, Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

 

ABSTRACT

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.

Received January 6, 2004. Accepted for publication April 9, 2004.

Acknowledgments: We thank the medical personnel from the Hospital San Jose de Chincha for their invaluable assistance. We also thank M. Verastegui for testing human sera.

Financial support: This study was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONCYTEC), Lima, Peru.

Authors’ addresses: Pedro L. Moro, Associacion Benefica PRISMA, Calle Carlos Gonzales 251, Urb. Maranga, San Miguel, Lima, Peru and Department of Microbiology and Pathology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Avenida H. Delgado 430, SMP Lima 31, Peru. Luis Lopera, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Avenida Circunvalación s/n, Salamanca de Monterrico, Lima 3, Lima, Peru. Milagros Cabrera and Grace Cabrera, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad San Antonio de Gonzaga de Ica, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Ica, Peru. Bernabe Silva, Department of Radiology, Hospital Arzobispo Loayza, Avenida Grau 623, El Cercado, Lima, Peru. Robert H. Gilman, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, W3501, Baltimore, MD 21205. Manuel H. Moro, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506.

Reprint requests: Manuel H. Moro, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, Telephone: 785-532-4602, Fax: 785-532-4851, E-mail: mmoro{at}vet.ksu.edu.






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