Prevalence of bovine fascioliasis and economic losses in an abattoir located in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Bovine fasciolosis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis that causes economic losses to beef production chains due to liver condemnation at abattoirs. Despite the characterization of Bovine fasciolosis in several areas of Brazil, an update on its prevalence in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo is lacking. Thus, fasciolosis prevalence from 2018 to 2021 is presented here according to cattle origin (municipalities of both states). In addition, the associated economic impact on an abbatoir was analyzed through liver condemnation of bovines from both states. The prevalence of fasciolosis in the state of Espírito Santo (10.4%) was significantly higher than Rio de Janeiro (3.6%) (P < 0.01), and resulted in an economic loss of US$12,678.60 for the abattoir. The following municipalities located in the state of Espírito Santo presented prevalences above the mean (10.3%) established in the study: Vargem Alta, Anchieta, Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, Castelo, Atilio Vivacqua, Apiacá and Ibitirama. Thus, majority of these municipalities are considered high-risk areas. Although, there is an aparrent reduction of fasciolosis prevalence, it continues to be a cause of economic losses in abattoirs especially in the state of Espírito Santo. Accordingly, prophylactic measures must still be adopted in cattle farms.

摘要：牛肝片吸虫病（Bovine fasciolosis）是一种被忽视的寄生虫性人畜共患病，因屠宰场中肝脏因检疫不合格被废弃，给牛肉产业链造成经济损失。尽管巴西多个地区已完成牛肝片吸虫病的相关特征研究，但目前仍缺乏里约热内卢州与圣埃斯皮里图州的该病流行情况最新数据。为此，本研究按牛只来源（涵盖两州下辖各市政区域）梳理了2018年至2021年的肝片吸虫病流行率数据。此外，本研究通过分析两州牛只的肝脏废弃情况，评估了该疾病对某屠宰场（abattoir）的关联经济影响。结果显示，圣埃斯皮里图州的肝片吸虫病流行率（10.4%）显著高于里约热内卢州（3.6%）（P < 0.01），并为该屠宰场造成12678.60美元的经济损失。圣埃斯皮里图州下辖的瓦尔任阿塔（Vargem Alta）、安谢塔（Anchieta）、卡舒埃鲁杜伊塔佩里林（Cachoeiro do Itapemirim）、卡斯泰洛（Castelo）、阿蒂利奥·维瓦夸（Atilio Vivacqua）、阿皮亚卡（Apiacá）与伊比蒂拉马（Ibitirama）等市政区域的流行率均高于本研究设定的平均阈值10.3%，因此上述区域大多被划为高风险区域。尽管本次研究发现肝片吸虫病流行率存在明显下降趋势，但该疾病仍是屠宰场产生经济损失的重要诱因，尤其在圣埃斯皮里图州。据此，肉牛养殖场仍需采取预防性防控措施。