Abstract

CAICEDO MARTINEZ, Jahnier Andrés; AVILA RUBIANO, María Angélica; HERNANDEZ-ORTIZ, Byron Abdel  and  MARTELO TORRES, Antonio. Report of cysticercosis in sheep of Ballesta, Bolivar, Colombia. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2016, vol.11, n.3, pp.35-47. ISSN 1900-9607.

Sheep are the intermediate hosts of Cysticercus tenuicollis, the metacestode of Taenia hydatigena. Cysticercosis produces economic losses associated with loss of condition and offal condemnation at slaughter. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. tenuicollis cysts in sheep, the most common sites and the histology of livers affected by this parasite in Bolivar, Colombia. This study included 23 sheep (4 females and 19 males) and it was carried out between August and November 2015. The prevalence of C. tenuicollis cysts was 39.13% (9/23). Fifty six percent (5/9) of the animals had body condition (BC: scale of 1 to 5) of 2; 22% (2/9) 3, and 22% (2/9) 4. A single cyst was found in 78% (7/9) of the animals, and 22% (2/9) had two cysts. Cysts were located in the rumen serosa: 44% (4/9); abomasal serosa: 22% (2/9); liver: 22% (2/9); bladder serosa 22% (2/9); and diaphragm: 11% (1/9). The C. tenuicollis metacestodes belonged to the species Taenia hydatigena. Lesions in the liver of all affected animals consisted of severe infiltration of eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Also present were areas of periportal fibrosis. In conclusion, cysticercosis damages the liver of sheep and potentially have a deleterious effect on the productivity of the flock. This is the first report describing post-mortem diagnosis of Cysticercus tenuicollis infection in sheep in Colombia.

Keywords : Cysticercus tenuicollis; liver pathology; prevalence; sheep.

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