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Aim: Fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis are important parasitic diseases worldwide, causing significant financial losses due to decrease in production and viscera condemnation in animals. We performed the current research to assess the epidemiology of these infections and determine their significance from an economic perspective in Arak, Iran. Materials and Methods: In total, we evaluated 118,463 sheep, 207,652 goats, and 43,675 cattle through necropsic analysis at the slaughterhouses. The average weight of sheep, goat, and cattle liver was 1000, 900, and 5000 g, respectively. The average price of liver in the market was 8 USD/kg. Moreover, the elimination of fundamental nutrients and vitamins was evaluated in infected livers. The prevalence of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis was determined. Analysis of variance test was applied for the statistical analysis, and the significance level was

The musculature of parasitic flatworms plays a central role in locomotory movement, attachment to the host, and in the function of the digestive, reproductive, and excretory systems. We examine for the first time the muscle system of the flatworm Dicrocoelium dendriticum, a causative agent of the parasitic disease dicrocoeliosis, by use of fluorescently labeled phalloidin and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Somatic musculature of D. dendriticum consists of the circular, longitudinal, and diagonal muscles. The distribution of the muscle fibers in the body wall differed among the anterior, middle, and posterior body regions of the worm. The musculature of the attachment organs, the oral and ventral suckers, includes several types of muscles: the external equatorial and meridional muscles, internal circular and semicircular muscles, and radial muscles. Inside of the ventral sucker the diagonally located muscles were revealed and the supplementary u‐shaped muscles were found adjoined to the base of the sucker from outside. The musculature of the internal organs composed of the excretory, reproductive, and digestive systems were characterized. Our results increase our knowledge of the morphology of trematodes and the arrangement of their muscle system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the current status of bovine fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in cattle slaughtered in abattoirs, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Visits were paid to slaughtered houses to collect bile samples from slaughtered cattle between 6.00 and 8.00 a.m. on each sampling day. A total of 378 cattle were observed for the presence of Fasciola spp., and Dicrocoelium spp. Bile samples collected were processed using sedimentation methods and viewed under the microscope for the eggs of these parasites. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were performed. An overall prevalence of 280(74.1%) was observed for Fasciola spp., the prevalence was higher at Abak abattoir, 118(80.8%) than Itam abattoir, 162(69.8%). Dicrocoelium spp. had an overall prevalence of 260(68.8%) with Itam abattoir having significantly higher prevalence of 172(74.1%) than Abak abattoir, 88(60.3%). Females [28(77.8%)] had higher prevalence of Fasciola spp. than males [252(73.7%)] while for Dicrocoelium spp, females [28(77.8%)] had higher prevalence than male [232(67.8%)]. The age group of 5-6 years had the highest prevalence of 58(85.3%) for Fasciola spp. and 52(76.5%) for Dicrocoelium spp. Significant difference was observed in the prevalence of Fasciola spp. according to age group. An overall coinfection of 222(58.7%) was observed between Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium spp. Fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis are still endemic in Akwa Ibom State with very high prevalence, this calls for urgent measures in the handling of meat before consumption. Also, the need for proper ranching in the rearing of cattle should be adopted in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study investigated the epidemiological and molecular aspects of dicrocoeliosis in extensive sheep farms. Methods From 2013 to 2014, copromicroscopical analyses in 190 dairy sheep farms and anatomo-pathological inspections in six slaughterhouses were carried in Sardinia, Italy. Rectal faecal samples were analyzed using the FLOTAC® method, and anatomo-pathological examinations were based on detecting thickened terminal bile ducts (TTBDs). In addition, genetic analyses were conducted on representative DNA samples of adult Dicrocoelium spp. Results Ninety-seven (51.1%) out of 190 sheep farms were coprologically positive for Dicrocoelium spp. In the liver, on the surface and cut surface, TTBDs were reported in 40.1% (309/770) and 15.3% (118/770) of the animals examined, respectively, with an overall prevalence of 25.5% (196/770). No intraspecific genetic variation was observed among the Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolates. Conclusions Our survey reveals the widespread presence of D. dendriticum in Sardinia, although seasonal, geographical and climatic conditions might be key factors in modulating the infection prevalence. Examining typical lesions due to D. dendriticum in the liver in abattoirs can be used as a marker for tracking chronic dicrocoeliosis infection.

Fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis are endemic parasitic diseases in Middle East especially Iran, which making significant economic problems. This retrospective survey has been done to evaluate contamination rate of slaughtered animals with fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis at Meisam abattoir, in Tehran, Iran. In this survey, prevalence rate of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in slaughtered animals in a three-year period (2005-2008) has been analyzed. The prevalence rates of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in cattle were 2.20 % and 2.5 %, and the rates in sheep were 2.01 % and 5.83 %, respectively. The average annual direct economic loss incurred as a result of condemnation of ovine and bovine infected livers due to fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis were estimated as high as 227,907 USD. The results of current survey revealed the rate of dicrocoeliosis is higher than fasciolosis. Our work proved that the highest frequency rate of the fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in cattle was in summer and spring, respectively. Whereas winter and autumn had the highest prevalence rate of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in sheep.

The concentration of chemical ements (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Zn, Hg, Fe, Co, Mn) in the liver of healthy cattle and those affected by Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium lanceatum in Poltava region (central part of Ukraine) was determined. The research was carried out by the method of atomic and absorption spectrometry carried out at the Regional State Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine in Poltava region. The liver samples (n = 30) from healthy cattle black-and-white breed and those affected by F. hepatica and D. lanceatum were taken at the meat processing plant. The ages of the cattle ranged from 6 to 8 years. The samples were immediately cooled, transported to the laboratory and stored at –20 °C for further analysis. The results of the research determined the average indicators of concentration of some toxic elements in the livers of healthy cattle and those infected by the trematodes. The content of chemical elements in the liver of healthy animals and those affected by fasciola can be represented in the form of a decreasing rank number: Zn > Fe > Cu, and for dicrocoeliosis, respectively, Fe > Zn > Cu. It has been established that Cu and Zn are involved in the metabolic processes of the body of trematodes, which is confirmed by our research. The presence of F. hepatica and D. lanceatum in the body of cattle significantly reduces the level of copper and zinc, with a high inverse correlation dependence on the intensity of infection, thus indicating the possibility of their accumulation by helminths. Concentration of Cu and Zn in the liver of cattle with fasciolosis was 6.82 ± 0.29 and 35.77 ± 1.93 mg/kg, while for animals with dicrocoeliosis it was 3.90 ± 0.25 and 41.91 ± 2.22 mg/kg. The content of cobalt and manganese in the liver of healthy animals was, respectively, 0.05 ± 0.01 and 1.95 ± 0.06 mg/kg. In the case of Fasciola parasitising in the liver tissue, the level of cobalt (0.10 ± 0.02) and manganese (2.55 ± 0.16) significantly increased, positively correlating with the intensity of the infection, indicating no effect on the exchange and bioaccumulation of these elements by helminths.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to detect a possible presence of dicrocoeliosis in cattle slaughtered in the Mitidja’s area (north of Algeria). Livers of 1,400 cattle were examined during evisceration by dissecting the biliary duct and looking for the small liver fluke Dicrocoelium sp. Moreover, the bile of each cattle was harvested and analyzed in order to observe the presence of the parasite’s eggs. The results revealed Dicrocoelium sp. in cattle from two slaughterhouses in Algiers. The prevalence of dicrocoeliosis in cattle was found to be 0.07% and 0.86% corresponding to the flukes and eggs-positive cases, respectively. This is the first record of dicrocoeliosis in Algeria as no data from previous reports suggested likewise . Keywords: bovine, Mitidja, prevalence, Dicrocoelium sp.

Contact handling with wild or semi-domesticated animals requires limiting animal stress to minimum. In this respect, single administration of drug should be preferred in contact therapy of mouflon (Ovis musimon) infected by lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum). We tested single administration of albendazole (ABZ) (30 mg/kg of body weight) in a form of oral suspension and investigated to reach anthelmintic effects and to modulate biotransformation enzymes in liver and small intestine. Two weeks after ABZ administration coprology and necropsy findings document the adulticide effect in liver. The activities of éight biotransformation enzymes and ABZ biotransformation were tested in hepatic and intestinal subcellular fractions from control and ABZ treated animals. The highest inductive effect of ABZ was detected on cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A) activities. Increased amount of CYP1A proteins was confirmed using western blotting. In hepatic and intestinal microsomes, velocity of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) formation was unaffected, but a shift in ratio of individual ABZSO enantiomers was observed. The second step of ABZ biotransformation corresponding to the formation of the pharmacologically inactive albendazole sulfone, was significantly accelerated both in liver and intestine of ABZ treated animals. The increase of ABZ deactivation could facilitate the development of anthelmintic resistance in parasites. Although single ABZ dose is therapeutically effective, its potential to induce CYP1A should be taken in account for controling helmithoses.

Human dicrocoeliosis caused by Dicrocoelium dendriticum is reported sporadically from various parts of the world. D. dendriticum, a liver fluke has a complex life cycle with two intermediate hosts‒the land snail and the ant. True human infection occurs by ingestion of the second intermediate host, but spurious infections have occurred after consumption of undercooked animal liver. We report a case of a 20-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and itchy skin rashes all over the body. Stool microscopy revealed numerous eggs of D. dendritricum. A brief discussion of the medical literature is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinaria is the property of University of Sarajevo, Veterinary Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract  Dicrocoeliosis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes belonging to the genus Dicrocoelium. It usually produces mild symptoms, and for this reason, dicrocoeliosis often remains undetected. Its diagnosis is mostly based on postmortem examination of the liver or on coprological assays for in vivo diagnosis. However, the latter method has scant sensitivity and because of the long pre-patency of Dicrocoelium spp. only permits late diagnosis. In the present study, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed based on excretory/secretory antigen of Dicrocoelium dendriticum. The ELISA detected antibodies (IgG) in experimental infected sheep starting from day 30 post-infection (d.p.i.), whereas coprological samples were positive from 58 d.p.i. The ELISA was used in a field study in order to assess dicrocoeliosis seroprevalence in ovine flocks from the province of Trento (northeastern Italy), and this was the first sero-epidemiological study of ovine dicrocoeliosis in northern Italy. Altogether, 842 sheep sera were tested. In accordance with previous surveys carried out in other regions of Italy, a high prevalence of 80% to 100% was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paramphistomidosis has recently been identified as an emerging parasitosis in Europe. This study estimated the prevalence of rumen flukes, Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, in small ruminants in Germany and identified occurring rumen fluke species and potential predictors for fluke infections. Pooled fecal samples from 223 sheep farms and 143 goat farms in northern and southern Germany were examined by the sedimentation technique, and molecular species identification was performed on rumen-fluke-positive samples. In sheep, a flock prevalence of 2.2% was detected for rumen flukes. Calicophoron daubneyi was identified on four of five positive farms, while species identification failed in one flock. No rumen fluke eggs were detected in the examined goat herds. F. hepatica eggs were detected in 2.7% of the sheep flocks, while the herd prevalence was 5.6% in goats. Higher prevalence values of 21.1% (sheep) and 7.0% (goats) were observed for D. dendriticum. Mixed grazing with other ruminants and previously identified infections with rumen flukes and/or F. hepatica were identified as predictors for paramphistomidosis. The distribution of the three trematode species followed a geographical pattern associated with conditions favoring the relevant intermediate hosts. C. daubneyi is an established parasite in German sheep at a currently low prevalence.

Dicrocoeliosis is a trematode infection in cattle, sheep and goats caused by the small liver fluke, Dicrocoelium spp. Though endemic in Ghana, its disease situation is poorly understood. In the present study, the prevalence, distribution and worm load of Dicrocoelium spp. in cattle at slaughter in Wa were determined. A total of 389 cattle were screened during meat inspection for liver flukes, and polymerase chain reaction accompanied by DNA sequencing of the 28S rRNA gene was used to identify Dicrocoelium spp. Generally, prevalence of bovine dicrocoeliosis (small liver fluke) stood at 19.54 % with prevalence in males and females being 17.62 % and 21.43 %, respectively. Animals under 2 years suffered more infection than older ones (23.08 % vs. 16.80 %). Dicrocoelium infection was recorded in animals from all the communities where slaughtered cattle came from. On average, 31 flukes per infected animal were recorded. A molecular confirmatory test on seven flukes identified them as D. hospes. This preliminary study highlights the importance of bovine dicrocoeliosis in Ghana and has identified D. hospes as a causal agent. The data provides basis for further studies to appraise the trematode disease situation in animals and phylogeny of Dicrocoelium spp. circulating in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the epidemiological and molecular aspects of dicrocoeliosis in extensive sheep farms. Methods: From 2013 to 2014, copromicroscopical analyses in 190 dairy sheep farms and anatomo-pathological inspections in six slaughterhouses were carried in Sardinia, Italy. Rectal faecal samples were analyzed using the FLOTAC® method, and anatomo-pathological examinations were based on detecting thickened terminal bile ducts (TTBDs). In addition, genetic analyses were conducted on representative DNA samples of adult Dicrocoelium spp. Results: Ninety-seven (51.1%) out of 190 sheep farms were coprologically positive for Dicrocoelium spp. In the liver, on the surface and cut surface, TTBDs were reported in 40.1% (309/770) and 15.3% (118/770) of the animals examined, respectively, with an overall prevalence of 25.5% (196/770). No intraspecific genetic variation was observed among the Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolates. Conclusions: Our survey reveals the widespread presence of D. dendriticum in Sardinia, although seasonal, geographical and climatic conditions might be key factors in modulating the infection prevalence. Examining typical lesions due to D. dendriticum in the liver in abattoirs can be used as a marker for tracking chronic dicrocoeliosis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dicrocoeliosis is a parasite disease that affects the liver of domestic and wild ruminants. It is one of the challenges in the livestock industry that causes significant diseases and economic losses. Objectives: This study aimed to identify Dicrocoelium dendriticum in sheep and cattle using their morphological and molecular characteristics. Methods: The current study examined 122 sheep and cattle livers from both sexes slaughtered in butcher shops. Found worms were selected randomly from the livers of sheep and cattle. They were stained for parasite morphometric measurements studies and macroscopic examination of the liver considering the color, consistency, and size. Molecular methods confirm the diagnosis of D. dendriticum in cattle and sheep. Results: The infection rates of D. dendriticum parasite in sheep and cattle were 34.4% and 10.7% respectively. The results showed a significant difference in the infection rate between sheep and cattle, while there is no significant difference between females and males in both sheep and cattle. Macroscopic diagnosis of the infected livers showed discoloration, swelling, wrinkled needle-spot shape and hyaline, the sharpness of liver margins loss, and biliary fibrosis. D. dendriticum was morphologically identified in all specimens collected from the sheep and cattle. The molecular examination confirmed the diagnosis of these parasites, which belonged to the species D. dendriticum, with a product reaction of 900 base pairs. Conclusion: This study is the first to isolate and detect D. dendriticum in sheep and cattle and to overview the genotype compositions of D. dendriticum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study aimed to detect the prevalence and to assess histopathological alterations incriminated to parasitic stages in the liver of Gaddi (breed) goats of the Kangra valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. Out of 107 goats examined (57 males and 50 females), 17 (15.88%) evinced the presence of individual or mixed parasitic infections. The highest prevalence was recorded in winter (25.71%) followed by monsoon (14.28%) and summer seasons (8.11%). Amongst individual parasitic infections, hydatidosis (7.01%) showed the highest prevalence in males followed by distomatosis (3.52%). On the other hand, in females hydatidosis and distomatosis (fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis) exhibited 4% prevalence each. Concurrent hydatidosis and distomatosis were the most common mixed hepatic parasitic infections encountered in both males (8.77%) and females (4%) examined. The samples of the infected liver subjected to histopathology exhibited the presence of multiple cysts of variable sizes containing outer lining epithelium surrounded by the zone of lymphocytic infiltration. The present study highlighted the observation of the diseases of emerging public health concern and require generation of awareness amongst the shepherds, people working in abattoirs as well as consumers about the seasonal preponderance, transmission and ill effects of the diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective study was carried from 2008 to 2013 to estimate the prevalence of liver flukes in ruminants slaughtered at the abattoir of Kermanshah province, west of Iran. A total of 663,633 animals slaughtered in the 5-year period and totally 1.95 % of livers were condemned due to liver flukes. Fasciolosis were responsible for 0.8, 0.7 and 1.5 % of liver condemnations, whereas 1, 0.8 and 1 % of liver were condemned because of Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in the sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. A significant difference in the prevalence of liver flukes were observed among studied animals ( p < 0.001) and the highest and lowest prevalence were detected in cattle and goats, respectively. Data showed significant seasonal pattern for distomatosis in sheep and goat ( p < 0.001). Liver condemnations due to fasciolosis were prevalent in sheep and goats and cattle slaughtered during winter, summer and autumn, respectively, whereas dicrocoeliosis were common in autumn season for sheep and cattle and in winter for goats. This survey provides baseline data for the future monitoring of these potentially important parasitic infections in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was monitoring of liver flukes in wild ruminants including red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and mouflon (Ovis musimon) in selected regions of Slovak Republic. Between 2014 – 2016 we examined 782 faecal samples from selected wild ruminants using coprological techniques and serological methods (ELISA detection of F. hepatica coproantigens). None of the samples was positive for the presence of Fasciola hepatica, 5.89 % of faecal samples were positive for Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Higher prevalence was recorded in mouflon (30.83 %), lower in red deer (1.49 %). D. dendriticum infection was not determined in fallow deer and roe deer. The seasonal distribution of dicrocoeliosis indicated a highest prevalence in autumn. Significantly higher prevalence was recorded in fenced rearing when compared with open hunting grounds, suggesting that animal agglomeration, constant use of the same areas and possible stress are the main risk factors. Parasitological examination of livers of hunted wild ruminants revealed dicrocoeliosis in mouflon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep breeding is one of the most promising branches of agriculture and the most important branch of animal husbandry worldwide. For the successful development of the industry mentioned above, it is necessary to increase the number of sheep and the production of livestock products. One of the aspects of this task is the effective implementation of measures to control parasitic diseases in sheep, particularly those localized in the gastrointestinal tract. The work aimed to investigate the spread of gastrointestinal parasitoses among sheep of single-person peasant farms in the Poltava region. The studies established that the average infestation of sheep by causative agents of gastrointestinal parasitoses is 39.74 %. In the studied sheep, strongylidoses of the digestive organs (extensiveness of invasion – 20.19 %), trichuriasis (18.59 %), eimeriosis (18.27 %), monieziosis (6.73 %), strongyloidosis (6.73 %) and dicrocoeliosis (1.92 %). In 32.26 % of the studied animals, the invasions occurred in monoinvasions, and in 67.74 % – in the form of mixinvasions. Among the monoinvasions, dicrocoeliosic (10 % of monoinvasions), monieziosic (22.5 %), strongyloidosic (40 %), and eimeriosic (27.5 %) were recorded. A total of 10 types of mixinvasions were detected in sheep, where two-component associations of gastrointestinal parasites were most often registered (78.57 % of mixinvasions), and three-component associations of parasites were less frequently diagnosed (21.43 %). Among the two-component mixinvasions, strongyloidosic- eimeriosic and trichuriasic- strongyloidosic were most often diagnosed, where the indicators of the extensiveness of invasions were 5.77 and 5.13 %, respectively. Three-component mixinvasions were represented by an association of trichurises, strongylides of digestive organs and eimeries (3.21 %), trichurises, strongyloideses and eimeries (1.60 %) and moniezies, trichurises, and strongylides of digestive organs (0.96 %). The research results on the spread of gastrointestinal parasitoses in sheep will allow for taking into account the peculiarities of the course of mixinvasions and the composition of their co-members when carrying out treatment and preventive measures in single-person peasant farms of the studied region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the eventual changes of hematological parameters caused by Dicrocoelium danderiticum during the subclinical phase of the disease in asymptomatic cattle from Semnan, Iran. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 50 healthy cattle during necroscopic examination of the liver at slaughterhouse. Samples for hematological analysis were taken from the jugular vein into EDTA-K2 containing vacutainer tubes and transported at +4 °C to the laboratory of the Veterinary Faculty in Semnan. Of the total 50 liver samples obtained from cattle, adult flukes in the bile ducts were observed in 40 % of samples (20 of liver), and the 60 % remaining (30 of liver) were negative. Erythrogram and leukogram were determined on blood samples from 20 infected and 30 uninfected cattle. Hematological analysis of infected cattle revealed the increased levels of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), lymphocytes, and eosinophils when compared to the uninfected cattle ( P < 0.05). A significant reduction in RBC counts was observed in infected compared to non-infected cattle ( P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the mean values of PCV, hemoglobin, MCHC, and the rest of the differential leukocyte counts. According to the results, the anemia observed in cattle infected with D. dandriticum is a macrocytic, normochromic anemia, which indicates that anemia is strongly regenerative. The most important cause of this type of anemia may be attributed to the nature of subclinical infection. Lymphocytosis may be due to the inflammatory process caused by this infection and eosinophilia represents a parasitic infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicrocoeliosis is a worldwide parasitic disease of ruminants which affects the liver. In this current study, the phylogenic pattern of Dicrocoelium species in Iranian native sheep from three different geographical regions was investigated by investigating a 520 bp fragment of mitochondirial NAD1 gene. The analysis of the NAD1 oligo nucleotide sequences from 10 D. dendriticum (GenBank accession numbers: MG889399 to MG889408) revealed few non-significant differences, suggesting limited application for NAD1 gene as a biomarker for study of genetic variation in Dicrocoelium. The morphometrical study also showed a significant relationship for the several morphometric indices among the Dicrocoelium spp. isolates from different regions of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism is of great concern to the wellbeing, productivity and reproductivity of animals and it causes great financial loss to the economy of any nation. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the economic loss from carcass and viscera condemnation due to parasitic diseases in slaughtered cattle in Kwara State, North-central Nigeria. A 16 year (2003–2018) record of parasitic diseases detected in cattle slaughtered at the major abattoirs in Ilorin city was retrieved from the Kwara State Veterinary department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The total prevalence as well as the yearly, monthly and seasonal prevalence of each of the documented parasitic diseases was determined. The financial losses associated with each of the parasitic diseases were estimated in Nigerian Naira (₦) and US Dollar (USD) considering the market price and weight of viscera condemned. Fasciolosis, hydatidosis, dicrocoeliosis, cysticercosis and oesophagostomiasis were the parasitic disease conditions with fasciolosis (6371/832,001) and cysticercosis (134/832,001) been the most and least prevalent disease conditions respectively. The yearly and monthly prevalence of each disease conditions showed an undefined pattern. There was a significantly difference in the prevalence of the detected parasitic conditions within seasons. The total financial loss associated with these disease conditions was 304,133.82 USD (46,161,433 Nigerian Naira). This study showed that parasitic diseases are of great financial drain to the livestock economy of Nigeria and this study will serve as baseline information on the economic losses associated with parasitic diseases of cattle at slaughter in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicrocoeliosis is a common parasitic disease in European sheep farming. The prevalence of infection by this parasite can reach almost 70% in areas where the environment is favorable to intermediate hosts. In France, only one drug is currently available for the treatment of dicrocoeliosis: albendazole at a dose of 15 mg/kg in a single administration. However, a control coproscopy following a routine treatment led us to suspect that the efficacy of albendazole against Dicrocoelium dendriticum had diminished. Therefore, we carried out an efficacy test on 15 animals by treating them with albendazole at a dose of 15 mg/kg and performing a coproscopy on D0 and a control coproscopy 14 days later. We obtained a 39% reduction in the excretion of D. dendriticum eggs. This shows a reduction in the expected efficacy of albendazole, which is normally more than 90% in other studies involving this molecule at a dosage of 15 mg/kg. These results are of major concern as albendazole is currently the only drug available in France to treat dicrocoeliosis.

Abstract: Dicrocoelium dendriticum can cause severe pathological changes of the liver and bile system in camelids, and therapeutic options for treatment are limited. To address this problem, the efficacy of two different dose rates of praziquantel was investigated in llamas suffering from natural D. dendriticum infections. 53 llamas were examined under field conditions on two occasions: before and two weeks after treatment. At the beginning of the study, the animals were weighed, randomly allocated to one of the treatment groups (n =21 each) or the control group (n =11) and dosed orally using a praziquantel-containing paste (250mg/ml) at a dose of either 25mg (group 1) or 50mg (group 2) per kg of body weight. Criteria for efficacy were faecal egg count reduction (FECR) and extensity effect. Animals treated with 25mg/kg of body weight showed a FECR of 85%. Therapy with 50mg/kg led to a FECR of 91%. Almost twice the number of animals of group 1 (33%) still shed eggs two weeks after treatment compared with group 2. The results of this study indicate that 50mg/kg oral praziquantel is required for efficacious dosing and that this dose rate is safe in llamas and thus is recommended for the treatment of camelids naturally infected with D. dendriticum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]