First report of screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in wild boar (Sus scrofa).

• Autores: Altuna, Martín; Winter, Marina
• Año de publicación: 2018
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: documento de conferencia
• Materia: Ciencias Veterinarias; Ciencias Biológicas; Cochliomyia Hominivorax; Sus Scrofa; Ciencias Veterinarias; Ciencias Biológicas
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Río Negro

Fil: Winter, Marina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Río Negro. Río Negro, Argentina.
Fil: Altuna, Martín. Servicios ganaderos del Ministerio de Ganadería Agricultura y Pesca, Uruguay
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are Cetartiodactyla mammals introduced in many countries of the world and recognized as carriers of many infections and parasitic diseases Also, S. scrofa is one of the 100 worst invasive species and one of the most relevant wildlife species related to human and livestock health problems. In 1920, pure Eurasian wild boars were deliberately introduced for recreational hunting in Colonia, Uruguay. As a result of releases and escapes, wild boars spread to the rest of the country (and even to Brazil) favored by its high adaptability to different environmental conditions, the absence of natural predators, its high reproductive rate and its omnivorous diet. Wild boar was declared a national pest by Decree No. 463 of December 15, 1982 and included in the pest regulation of agriculture in 2004. The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (through the General Directorates of Agricultural Services and Renewable Natural Resources) must organize, supervise and supervise the control measures of wild boars. It is important to note that the wild boar is affected by the same diseases as the domestic pig and it plays an important role in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Wild boar is one of the most relevant wildlife species for man health because its meat is consumed without previous sanitary controls. Also, it is recognized as responsible of negative impacts on agricultural production, on the wildlife and on the environment. Livestock production represents an important percentage of the Uruguay economy. However, animal production has suffered significant losses because of the impact of endo and ectoparasites on livestock. Among the ectoparasites the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is an important cause of primary myiasis and endemic of South America. Screwworm fly affects several animal species: wildlife and livestock. It is a notifiable and transboundary disease. In the 50s, its geographic distribution was reduced because of the implementation of a control strategy using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), being considered eradicated in the United States and Central American countries between 1950 and 2006. Currently, in Uruguay cases of myiasis by C. hominivorax are reported in production animals (mainly sheep and cattle) and less frequent in dogs and people. In wild animals despite mention of the occurrence of myiasis, there is no report of identification larvae. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and notify the presence of larvae of C. hominivorax in Sus scrofa hunted in Artigas, Uruguay. Through the Association of Wild Boar Controllers of Artigas, each hunted wild boar is given a general inspection to evaluate the presence of ectoparasites. In case of wild boar with the presence of ectoparasites they are conserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. In 2017, were reported three cases of C. hominivorax in S. scrofa. This is the first systematic study in Uruguay to assess the presence of C. hominivorax in free-living wild boars. These results suggest that the wild boar could has an important role in the spread of myiasis larvae. In a changing ecosystem, systematic studies of wildlife are important. Moreover S. scrofa is the most important and widely distributed game animal species in the world. Finally, more studies are needed to understand the dynamics of myiasis among wildlife, livestock and humans.