Echinococcus infections in mammals in Colombia

Abstract

The results of a survey involving more than 4000 Colombian mammals to detect Echinococcus infections are presented. Adult worms were found in 5 of 121 carnivores: E. oligarchs in 1 of 11 ocelots, 2 of 9 jaguarundi cats and a single puma, and E. vogeli in 1 of 15 domestic dogs. Although bush dogs were present, none could be examined. Polycystic larvae were found in 96 of 325 pacas (29.5%) and 6 of 1168 (0.5%) spiny rats, Proechimys spp. No 118 agouti showed hydatids, but hunters provided an infected heart. The paca's infection rate increased with age but was unrelated to sex or geographic region. In 73 of 96 pacas, the infection was due to E. vogeli, and the cysts were in the liver. In 3 it was due to E. oligarthrus and the hydatids were extrahepatic, mainly attached to muscles. In the remaining 20, the species involved could not be determined. The parasites in two spiny rats and the agouti heart were E. oligarthrus. Although most of the infected animals were collected in the eastern plains, other records and verbal information indicate that, at least in Colombia, where man has not exterminated pacas, agoutis, wild canids, and felids, one still can find enzootic neotropical Echinococcus infection. The cycle of E. vogeli involves the Busch dog and paca as hosts and that of E. oligarchs, the paca, agouti, spiny rat, and several species of wild felids.