Helmintos y pérdidas económicas por decomisos en animales de abasto en Cajamarca, Perú

Under optimal environmental conditions for animal husbandry, parasites that adversely affect animal productivity also thrive. This study evaluated the presence of parasites and estimated economic losses due to the condemnation of viscera from cattle, sheep, and swine, which were slaughtered in Cajamarca, Peru. Viscera and carcasses from 2,810 cattle, 3,267 sheep, and 3,858 pigs were inspected. In cattle, Fasciola hepatica was found in liver (77.54 %), hydatid cyst in liver (0.18 %) and lung (0.07 %) and Dictyocaulus spp. in lung (0.04 %). In sheep, F. hepatica (50 %), hydatid cyst (0.03 %), Thysanosoma actinioides (0.10 %) and Cysticercus tenuicollis (0.12 %) were found in the liver. In swine, F. hepatica was found in liver (2.64 %), lesions by Ascaris suum (12.36 %) and C. tenuicollis (0.75 %), hydatid cyst in liver (0.16 %) and kidney (2.72 %), Cysticercus cellulosae in carcass-tongue-heart (0.05 %) and Metastrongylus spp. in lung (1.48 %). Total economic losses per species were USD 28,971.90 in cattle (annual economic loss [AEL]: 173,831.38), USD 4,051.30 in sheep (AEL: 24,307.79), and USD 2,013.90 in swine (AEL: 12,083.39). Total losses attributable to F. hepatica amounted to USD 33,184.89 (AEL: 199,109.32), A. suum to USD 1,191.63 (AEL: 7,149.80), C. cellulosae to USD 354.78 (AEL: 2,128.67), hydatid cysts to USD 287.70 (AEL:1,726.22), T. actinioides to USD 7.43 (AEL: 44.57), Dictyocaulus spp. to USD 5.54 (AEL: 33.22), Metastrongylus spp. to USD 3.71 (AEL: 22.24), and C. tenuicollis to USD 1.42 (AEL: 8.52). The overall economic loss across all three species totaled USD 35,037.09 (AEL: 210,222.56). It was concluded that F. hepatica was highly prevalent and caused the greatest financial losses in cattle and sheep, while A. suum led to significant losses in swine. The presence of hydatid cysts and C. cellulosae represents a public health concern.