General Description
Bovine fasciolosis caused by the digenic trematode Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide parasitic disease common in ruminants. This two-host life cycle parasite is classically found in farms where all conditions for the survival and the multiplication of the snail intermediate host ( Lymnea truncata) are fulfilled. This snail is mainly found in damp meadows (watering-places, brooks, springs,...).
Fasciola egg shedding occurs with faeces. Hatching follows in water and gives rise to the miracidium which infests the snail. After multiplication in this host, cercariae are eliminated and give rise to infectious metacercariae fixed on a plant holder. Once ingested by a ruminant, young flukes migrate through the liver to reach bile ducts. The prepatent period is 8 to 10 weeks. Adults appear in the bile ducts and start to lay eggs.
Liver damage and acute disease (especially in sheep) are caused by migrating immature parasites. Chronic disease occurs in cattle during the biliary phase. Zootechnical characteristics are hampered by the disease. Decrease in milk yield (-10%), weight loss, intermittent diarrhoea, anemia and fertility problems. Diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica in cattle can only be made after 8 to 10 weeks by coprological examination of faecal material. However, sometimes even repeated fecal examination cannot identify any Fasciola hepatica infection due to the lack of sensitivity of this method. Acute distomatosis of the sheep is characterized by anemia and sometimes sudden mortality and chronic distomatosis by anemia, reduction of the dairy production, reduction of the average daily profit and oedemas.
COA
Publication 
Loading ......
