Cerón-Romero, Natalia

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    Estudio de prevalencia de Trichinella spp. en producciones porcinas de la región oeste de Puerto Rico
    (2014) Cerón-Romero, Natalia; Jiménez-Cabán, Esbal; College of Agricultural Sciences; Latorre Acevedo, José R.; Mesonero Morales, Alexander; Department of Animal Science; Cortés Figueroa, José E.
    Trichinosis is a disease caused by a nematode of worldwide distribution that affects a wide range of hosts from carnivores, omnivores, and even there are some reports in birds and reptiles. However, disease is largely related to pigs and human, who acquires the parasite accidentally by eating raw or undercooked meat. This disease has implications to the public health and economic losses for the swine industry. Puerto Rico has been considered a Trichinella-free country because prevalence studies of this disease do not exist. Then, the objectives of the present study were to assess the prevalence of Trichinosis in the west area of Puerto Rico and to identify management practices and risk factors associated with the disease. Ninety pig farms were assessed for Trichinella infection. Farms included three types of systems: intensive, semiextensive and freerange systems. Serum samples of 416 pigs were tested for T. spiralis by using an ELISA. A questionnaire was completed summarizing information about risk management factors. The apparent serological prevalence of Trichinella infections was 1.68% (7/416). The 7 positive animals originated from five extensive and backyard farms from four municipalities: Aguada, Moca, San Sebastian and Las Marias. Risk factors associated with the disease were: exposure to meat-containing waste (p<0.0376) and presence of dogs and cats as possible carrier (p<0.0101). The present study demonstrate that Trichinella in Puerto Rico is present in small farms and backyard systems.