Molecular characterization of Taenia saginata in cattle slaughtered in Costa Rica
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/rcv.44-1.1Keywords:
Zoonosis, export slaughterhouses, carcass condemnation, PCR, genotypesAbstract
Bovine cysticercosis (BCC) is a parasitic zoonotic disease of veterinary and sanitary importance affecting cattle production in Costa Rica. The causal agent is the larval form of Taenia saginata, which requires cattle to complete its life cycle. This study aims to determine the distribution of BCC cases in the country’s export slaughterhouses and to characterize T. saginata in suspicious samples molecularly. A cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing reports of CCB retentions recorded by the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) between 2015 and 2019 in four export slaughterhouses in the country. The number and distribution of cases in the cantons of Costa Rica were identified from this data. Additionally, cysts suspected of BCC were collected for detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results showed that of the 852 cases reported, the majority came from Alajuela (33.5%), San José (21.1%), and Guanacaste (10.8%). The cantons of Alajuela (n=118) and San Carlos (n=90) in the province of Alajuela had the highest number of cases. Between June and August, 24 cysts were collected, with the majority originating from the province of Alajuela, specifically 58.3% found in the masseter muscles. PCR analysis identified T. saginata in 11 samples (45.8%), and sequencing revealed two distinct genotypes. One genotype exhibited 100% nucleotide similarity with isolates from South Korea, Brazil, Ecuador, and Belgium, while the other genotype showed similarity with an isolate from China. These findings highlight the prevalence and distribution of bovine cysticercosis in Costa Rica, as well as the importance of implementing effective control and prevention measures.
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