ABSTRACT
The efficacy of oxfendazole (OFZ) on Taenia hydatigena metacestodes, also called Cysticercus tenuicollis (C. tenuicollis), was studied in 648 raising pigs. This study was performed in Tumbes Department in Peru, an endemic area for cysticercosis. Pigs were randomized in two groups;untreated group (n=142) did not receive any treatment and treated group (n=506) received OFZ treatment at a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight. Six months after treatment, the pigs were necropsied. The prevalence of infection by C. tenuicollis among the pigs was 27.5%(39/142) and 2.0%(10/506) in untreated and treated groups, respectively. Untreated group was infested only with viable cysts, whereas treated group had no viable cysts. All the cysts found in treated group presented degeneration, with a thick membrane, and they contained milky fluid and fibrous tissue. A single dose of OFZ was effective against C. tenuicollis, thus providing an alternative drug for controlling this parasite in pigs.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the impact of storage temperature and sample volume on milk culture success under a simulated field setting. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Centro de Salud Global UPCH, Tumbes, Peru and Naval Medical Research Unit SIX, Lima, Peru. April, May and June 2010. Methodology: We aseptically collected milk from unvaccinated goats, and then experimentally inoculated the pooled milk sample with B. melintensis in order to compare the effect of two different sample volumes (2ml and 5ml) and two different storage temperatures (4ºC and -20ºC) on culture success. Results: We achieved higher culture success in refrigerated (4ºC) versus frozen (-20ºC) samples (OR 4, 95% CI 1.7, 9.6) and with 5-ml versus 2-ml aliquots (OR 9, 95% CI 3.3, 26.6). Conclusion: In resource-poor field settings where cold-chain and transportation are unreliable, use of ice for sample storage and transport of goat milk is an acceptable method for the purpose of culturing B. melintensis.