No abstract

Peru is currently one of the world’s leading culinary destinations, whose world-renowned cuisine uses vegetables, mainly lettuce, as frequent ingredients. Vegetable consumption is promoted worldwide as a part of a healthy diet. However, vegetables, more frequently lettuce, have been implicated as a vehicle of infection for several foodborne parasites. This study aimed to determine the presence of potentially pathogenic parasites in lettuce marketed in the Central Andes of Peru. A total of 75 lettuce samples were collected from the two largest wholesale markets and the main open-air market in Jauja province, in the central Peruvian Andes. The province of provenance (coast vs. highlands), lettuce variety (“curly-leaf”, “iceberg”, and “butter”), and type of market were recorded. The samples were microscopically examined for detection of parasitic life forms using standard parasitological methods including direct slide smear, Lugol’s iodine staining, and Modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining. The overall positivity of parasitic contamination in lettuces was 45.3% (CI 95%: 34–56.6%). Cryptosporidium spp., Isospora belli, Giardia lamblia, Balantidium coli, and Entamoeba spp. were detected in twenty-six (34.7%), six (8%), four (5.3%), two (2.7%), and two (2.7%) lettuces, respectively. I. belli was found in a significantly (p < 0.01) lower proportion in the “butter” variety, and significantly (p < 0.05) higher contamination with G. lamblia was found in lettuce sold at the open-air market. B. coli, G. lamblia, and E. histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii were detected only in lettuce from the highlands (Tarma province). This study provides important data for health authorities to develop food safety programs. This information is also of interest to the international community because of the increased visibility that Peru has gained as a tourist destination.

Objetivo: Identificar las condiciones de manejo e infraestructura en la crianza no tecnificada de cerdos en una zona peri-urbanas de Lima. Metodología: Se encuesto a 51 productores. Se tomaron datos como información demográfica y características del sistema productivo. Resultados y Conclusiones: La edad promedio de los productores fue de 51.3 años (rangos de 19 a 74 años) y el tiempo promedio que dedicaban a la actividad fue de 10.8 años (rangos de 01 a 45 años). Se registró como propiedad un total de 1401 animales (290 marranas, 34 verracos, 622 gorrinos y 455 lechones). El número de lechones nacidos por cada parto fue de 10.1 y la cantidad de nacimientos por año por productor fue de 94. Las principales causas de morbi-mortalidad fueron los problemas diarreicos y el cólera porcino. El 86.3% cocina los alimentos que consumen los animales. El 64.7% no recibe asesoría profesional, el 89.9% aplica vacunación contra el cólera y el 72.5% no lleva ningún tipo de registro. El modo predominante de comercialización de los cerdos es la venta en pie a intermediarios o acopiadores (84%), donde el cálculo del peso se hace visualmente. La condición de los corrales fue considerada buena solo en 2 casos. La madera es el material predominante en cercos, comederos y bebederos. Los pisos son de tierra. El 86.3% obtiene agua del camión cisterna, el 86.3% poseía letrinas y el 57.7% cuenta con servicio eléctrico. Los resultados del estudio permitieron identificar las principales deficiencias de este proceso productivo y a partir de ellas se pueden aplicar estrategias de intervención para superarlas.

Background: Recently, it was proposed the name of Sarcocystis masoni n. sp. for the Sarcocystis that causes microcyst in skeletal muscle of South American camelids. However, there are no ultrastructural reports of microcysts of Sarcocystis in cardiac muscle of alpacas. This study reports ultrastructural features of microcysts of Sarcocystis sp. from cardiac muscle of naturally infected alpacas. Methods: Thirty alpacas (age range: three to five years) from the province of Junin, Peruvian Central Andes, were included in this study in January 2015. Cardiac muscle samples were evaluated by histology and transmission electron microscopy. Results: Bradyzoites in cysts had typical characteristics of Apicomplexa including organelles, a large nucleus, micronemes, dense bodies, and polysaccharide granules. Moreover, cysts had a thin wall with numerous, short, finger-like shapes with rounded tip protrusions (0.51 x 0.17 µm). Conclusion: Sarcocystis sp. from the heart and S. masoni n. sp. from the skeletal muscle have similar ultrastructural characteristics.

Sarcocystis is a threat to food security in the Peruvian Andes. The Sarcocystis species that forms microcysts in the myocardium of alpacas is S. masoni n. sp. (known as "S. lamacanis"). There is a lack of current studies estimating the prevalence of this parasite in alpacas, although this information is crucial for the control and prevention of sarcocystosis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and cyst density of Sarcocystis masoni n. sp. in the myocardium of alpacas in Huancavelica, a province of the Andean region of Peru. Myocardial samples for histological analysis were taken from 104 alpacas slaughtered in an o cial abattoir in the area. All alpacas (100%) presented this parasite. About 44% (95% CI: 34.5-53.5%), presented from 31 to 45 microcysts per mm2 of myocardial histological slide (cyst density). Cyst density was signi cantly higher (p<0.05) as the age of the animals increased. In addition, cyst density was signi cantly higher (p<0.05) in 4-and 5-years-old males compared to females of the same age. These results con rm that myocardial sarcocystosis is highly endemic in alpacas in Peru.