Parasites of the digestive tract in beef cattle imported from France to Italy.

Beef cattle heads (195 heads, 6 batches) imported for fattening from France to Italy were examined. Coprological qualitative and quantitative tests were performed, and the results analysed in relation to sex, breed, age, date of arrival, geographical origin (French department in which the animal was bred), and gathering centre (French department in which the animal was grouped with the others before travelling to Italy). The following parasites were identified: Eimeriidae (overall prevalence 60.5%); Strongyles (59%); Nematodirus spp. (14.3%); Trichuris spp. (4.1%); Capillaria spp. (2.0%); Paramphistomum spp. (27.6%); Dicrocoelium spp. (3.0%); Moniezia spp. (8.7%). All the observed parasites are widely reported in beef cattle either in Italy or in France. However, the seeming absence of Fasciola hepatica was unexpected, as well as the high prevalence of Paramphistomum spp. The variables that appeared to be more linked to parasite epidemiology were sex, altitude of the geographical origin and season.