MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina claims development of first vaccine against hydatidosis in livestock

Providen Hidatil EG95 gives a 100% full protection to livestock (mainly sheep and goats) according to Argentine authorities

The first vaccine against hydatidosis in livestock and developed in Argentina together with Australian and New Zealand scientists was officially presented in Buenos Aires by the Ministry of Industry. In Argentina the tape worm parasite from cattle which is transmitted by dogs to human causes 450 deaths annually.

The vaccines identified as Providen Hidatil EG95 gives a 100% full protection to livestock (mainly sheep and goats), according to Argentina’s Animal and Food Quality and Health Services, Senasa, which opens the way to cut the transmission parasite chain.

“The vaccine brings hope for the 500.000 children that live in hydatidosis risk contagion zones”, said Oscar Jensen from the Chubut province Health Research Department during the presentation of the vaccine.

The hydatid disease or echinococcal is a parasitic disease that affects both humans and other mammals, such as sheep, dogs, rodents and horses. It is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. The tapeworm lives in the intestines of dogs and other canids. Eggs are passed in the dogs’ faeces and may come to rest grazing land.

Hoofed animals such as sheep and goats serve as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Cysts develop in the liver or lungs of the infected sheep or goat and the cycle is completed when a dog eats the meat of the infected animal.

Humans also become affected if they ingest the Echinococcus eggs. Hydatidosis cysts then develop in humans’ different organs, mainly liver and lung. Many times surgery is needed to extract the cyst.

Although much extended in sheep farming countries, the spread of hydatidosis has dropped considerably in recent years with pill doses for dogs.