Polycystic Echinococcosis in Pacas, Amazon Region, Peru

Abstract

In the Peruvian Amazon, paca meat is consumed by humans. To determine human risk for polycystic echinococcosis, we examined wild pacas from 2 villages; 15 (11.7%) of 128 were infected with Echinococcus vogeli tapeworms. High E. vogeli prevalence among pacas indicates potential risk for humans living in E. vogeli–contaminated areas.

Keywords

• Polycystic echinococcosis
• Echinococcus vogeli
• Cuniculus paca
• Amazonian Peruvian villages
• prevalence
• tapeworms