FASCIOLIASIS FASCIOLIASIS Other names LIVER FLUKES HEPATIC DISTOMATOSIS

FASCIOLIASIS

FASCIOLIASIS Other names LIVER FLUKES. HEPATIC DISTOMATOSIS. LIVER ROT.

DEFINITION Fascioliasis is an acute, subacute or chronic infectious diseases of liver and bile ducts of ruminants and other animals caused by F. gigantica and F. hepatica and characterized by digestive disturbances marked by liver destruction.

ETIOLOGY AND LIFE CYCLE Leave-shaped trematodes, genus Fasciola. F. gigantica (75 mm) is more prevalent and endemic in tropical areas including Egypt. F. hepatica (30 mm) is endemic in temperate and cooler areas (recorded in Egypt).

EPIDEMIOLOGY Distribution: World wide distributed. Both types are endemic in Egypt.

Sources of infection q. Encysted on grass. metacercariae

MODE OF TRANSMISSION Ingestion.

SUSCEPTIBLE ANIMALS Ruminant animals are highly susceptible. Other animals like pigs, equines, carnivores and primates including humans.

FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSCEPTIBILITY Calves and yearlings are more susceptible except suckling ones. In sheep, age group from 4 -12 m.

E. VALUE Death during acute infection. Inefficient feed conversion. Predispose to other disease like black disease and bacillary hemoglobinuria. Liver losses in slaughter houses.

PATHOGENESIS In acute fatal hepatic fascioliasis …. . Internal haemorrhage. Liver necrosis leading lower oxygen tension leading to flaring up of clostridial spores (Cl. Novyi type B & D) leading to development of black disease and bacillary hemoglobinuria. Chronic fascioliasis leading establishment of adult flukes in bile ducts… cholangitis, biliary obstruction, anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia.

CLINICAL SIGNS IP (prepatent period) 3 -4 months. Morbidity varies directly with the degree of infestation in grazing land. Mortality 20%.

CLINICAL SIGNS Acute form: sudden death. Subacute form: Weight loss. Anaemia Pale mm. Submandibular edema in few cases.

Chronic from: Submandibular edema (bottle jaw). Pale or icteric mm. Diarrhea is often present. Shedding of wool in sheep.

EGGS OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA Eggs are 130 -150 X 63 -90 μm; golden brown, indistinct operculum, and unembryonated.

DIAGNOSIS Case history or field diagnosis Clinical signs Lab diagnosis: Fecal samples for direct faecal smear or sedimentation technique. Serological examination.

TREATMENT Ø Rafoxanide 1 ml/25 kb bw. Ø Dovenix (Nitroxynil) 1 ml /20 kg bw. Ø Albendazole 3 ml in cattle and 2 ml in sheep /10 kg bw.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL Prophylactic use of anthelmintic twice per year. Prevent animal grazing infected areas. Eradication of host snails.