Dicrocoeliosis in goats in Jammu, India

Ovine dicrocoeliosis in Castellón province, eastern Spain: Prevalence, dynamics, and comparative study of different diagnostic techniques

Dicrocoeliosis is a parasitic disease that mainly affects ruminants during grazing, caused by trematodes of the genus Dicrocoelium, with D. dendriticum being the most common species worldwide. This parasitosis is a chronic and generally subclinical process, with nonspecific signs, which makes its diagnosis challenging. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of D. dendriticum infection in adult sheep from the Valencian Community, eastern Spain, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of flotation and sedimentation techniques when compared with the macroscopic exam of the liver. From February to May 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, a total of 290 adult sheep were examined. The animals were sourced from Castellón province, where a semi-intensive production system predominates. Each animal was euthanized and underwent a macroscopic examination of the liver, as well as a fecal analysis. Among the sampled animals, 117 (40.6%) tested positive for adult trematodes in their liver, while 87 (30%) showed evidence of trematode eggs in the coprological exam, reaching a total of 126 sheep parasitized, with a prevalence of 43.4%. The parasitic burden was established in 90.3 adults per animal when the liver was examined and in 54.5 eggs per gram when the sedimentation coprological exam was performed. No eggs were observed when the flotation technique was employed. A positive correlation was found between the number of adults in the liver and the fecal egg count. No significant differences were detected in the prevalence or parasitic burden throughout the study. Considering the difficulty in controlling the intermediate hosts and the complexity of the life cycle, effective diagnostic methods, combined with the adoption of other preventive measures, is crucial to achieving proper management of this parasitic disease.

Dicrocoeliidae Family: Major Species Causing Veterinary Diseases

This chapter analyses the taxonomic position of the Dicrocoeliidae family and several of its genera and species. The chapter reviews the biology of major veterinary disease-causing species, including Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium chinensis, Eurytrema pancreaticum and Platynosomum fastosum. All these species have indirect life cycles with two intermediate hosts: molluscs as the first host and ants, grasshoppers and lizards as the second host. Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a widespread liver fluke found in ruminants across Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. It can also infect humans. Dicrocoelium hospes is widely distributed in the savanna areas of Africa south of the Sahara, while D. chinensis is mainly found in ruminants in East Asia and some European countries (probably imported from Asia). Eurytrema pancreaticum is a common parasite that lives in the bile ducts, gall bladder, pancreatic ducts and intestines of ruminants. It is found in Europe, Madagascar, Asia and South America. Adults of P. fastosum live in the liver, gall bladder and pancreas of birds and mammals in Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central and South America. Information on the epidemiology, pathology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment, control, prevention and economic impact of Dicrocoeliosis caused by D. dendriticum, Eurytrematodosis and Platynosomiosis have been included.

Histopathology and antibody responses describe the seasonal pattern of dicrocoeliosis in small ruminants in the Himalayan ranges of Pakistan

In some parts of the world, Dicrocoelium spp. lancet flukes cause significant production loss in pastoral livestock, and accurate diagnosis of infection is important. The aims of the present study were to describe the histopathology and to investigate the transmission patterns of Dicrocoelium amongst ten sheep and goat farms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The liver histology and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses followed standard procedures. The liver histopathology showed intensive tissue destruction and biliary hyperplasia associated with presence of adult flukes, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, congestion of blood vessels, damaged hepatocytes, and sinusoids in the infected areas. The time of onset of infection was investigated by ELISA detection of antibodies in sheep (n = 164) and goats (n = 152). Colostral transfer of Dicrocoelium antibodies from seropositive mothers was detected in sheep and goats up to 16 weeks of age. In both sheep and goats, the estimated time of infection differed between farms and years. Infection was seen in both sheep flocks and goat herds, with high variation between flocks and herds, and the highest infection rate in lambs. Dicrocoelium infection was most prevalent in sheep and goats in September (n = 84) and August (n = 63) respectively. This study concluded Dicrocoelium causes severe inflammation and necrosis of liver tissues in sheep and goats. Colostral transfer of antibodies can be detected up to about ten weeks of age. Higher infection rates are observed during August and September in sheep than in goats, putatively due to effects of different grazing and browsing behaviors on the ingestion of ants. The results will aid in the development of effective disease control strategies to ensure optimal growth and productivity of sheep and goats.

Spatial Distribution of Dicrocoelium in the Himalayan Ranges: Potential Impacts of Ecological Niches and Climatic Variables

PURPOSE

Dicrocoeliosis can be an important cause of production loss in ruminants due to the cost of liver condemnation at slaughter. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Dicrocoelium infection and to predict the ecological niches and climatic variables that support dicrocoeliosis in the Himalayan ranges of Pakistan.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Dicrocoelium was detected in 33 of 381 liver samples and 238 of 6060 blood samples taken from sheep and goat herds in the area. The prevalence of dicrocoeliosis was higher in sheep than in goats and highest in females aged more than 3 years. An environmental risk map was created to predict active zones of transmission and showed the highest probability values in central parts of the Chitral district in the northwest of Pakistan. Climatic variables of the mean monthly diurnal temperature range (Bio2), annual precipitation (Bio12), and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the presence of Dicrocoelium infection.

CONCLUSION

Together, the findings of this study demonstrate the most suitable ecological niches and climatic variables influencing the risk of dicrocoeliosis in the Himalayan ranges of Pakistan. The methods and results could be used as a reference to inform the control of dicrocoeliosis in the region.

Human dicrocoeliosis with urticaria: A case report from India

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.

Welfare of Native Goat Breeds in Serbia-Emphasis on Parasitological Infections

Native goat breeds in Serbia has been recognized as an important element of regional agrobiodiversity and play an important role in the safeguarding of cultural and traditional heritage. The aim of this study was to identify the main welfare issues likely to be encountered in extensive goat farming systems with an emphasis on parasitological infections. The study was conducted during the winter season on four small farms of native Balkan and Serbian white goats. For welfare assessment, animal-based indicators from AWIN protocol for goats were used. All fecal samples for parasites were qualitatively and quantitatively examined. The main welfare issues identified were poor hair coat condition (62.79%), dirty and light soiling hindquarters (31.40%), thin body condition score (26.74%), abscesses (19.78%), and udder asymmetry (18.60%). In addition, an important and prevalent welfare problem identified across all farms was parasite infection and weak significant (p < 0.001) correlation between certain parasites (Strongylidae, Moniezia spp., Buxtonella sulcate, and Protostrongylidae) and welfare indicators such as poor hair coat condition and nasal discharge. The results of this study provided the first overview and valuable insight into the impact of extensive systems on the welfare of native goats in the Balcan region.

Dicrocoeliosis in extensive sheep farms: a survey

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.

Dicrocoeliidae Family: Major Species Causing Veterinary Diseases

This chapter analyses the taxonomic position of Dicrocoeliidae family and several of its genus and species. The biology of the major species causing veterinary diseases such Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Dicrocoelium hospes, Dicrocoelium chinensis, Eurytrema pancreaticum and Platynosomum fastosum, has been reviewed. All these species have an indirect life cycle, involving two intermediate hosts (molluscs as first and ants, grasshoppers and lizards as second). Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a very widespread hepatic trematode in the ruminants of many countries in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America, even affecting humans. Dicrocoelium hospes is widely distributed in the savanna areas of Africa south of the Sahara, whilst D. chinensis has mainly been found in ruminants in East Asia and some European countries (probably imported from Asia). Eurytrema pancreaticum is a common parasite whose adults live in ruminant bile ducts, gall bladder, pancreatic ducts and intestines in Europe, Madagascar, Asia and South America. Adult P. fastosum live in the liver, gall bladder and pancreas of birds and mammals in Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central and South America. Information about the epidemiology, pathology, clinical aspect, diagnosis, treatment, control, prevention and economic impact mainly of Dicrocoeliosis produced by D. dendriticum, as well as of Eurytrematodosis and Platynosomiosis, has been included.

Prevalence of caprine GI helminths in temperate areas of Jammu & Kashmir

Prevalence study on GastroIntestinal (GI) helminths of goats was carried out at Govt. Farms of twin districts of Bandipora and Ganderbal and locally reared goats of district Baramulla of the Kashmir Valley over a period of one year from December 2011 to November 2012. A total of 1016 faecal samples were examined which revealed overall prevalence of GI helminths to be 74.70%, with platyhelminths and nemathelminths in 14.76 and 70.07% animals, respectively. The helminths recorded in the present study were Fasciola spp. (2.75%), Dicrocoelium spp. (3.44%), paramphistomes (3.05%), Moniezia spp. (9.44%), strongyle worms including Nematodirus spp. (68.30%), Strongyloides spp. (5.90%) and Trichuris spp. (4.29%). On coprocultural examination Haemonchus spp. (71.05%) was found to be the most predominant strongyle worm followed by Trichostrongylus spp. (12.86%), Chabertia spp. (8.47%) and Ostertagia spp. (7.62%). Seasonal prevalence of GI helminths was observed highest in summer (78.03%) followed by spring (75.39%), winter (74.90%) and autumn (70.47%), the difference being statistically non-significant (P > 0.05). The prevalence of platyhelminths was found to be non-significantly higher in winter (20.00%) followed by spring (15.07%), summer (12.54%) and autumn (11.41%). Nemathelminths were recorded highest in summer (75.68%) followed by spring (71.82%), autumn (68.50%) and winter (64.31%). EPG ranged from 0 to 1500 and an average EPG count was found to be 312.7 ± 17.76. EPG was found to be highest in summer (453.80 ± 45.25) followed by spring (313.2 ± 28.76), autumn (256.1 ± 17.48) and winter (190.2 ± 32.0).Overall prevalence of GI helminths was found more in adult goats (77.85%) compared to young ones (67.42%), the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). Similarly, it was found to be higher in females (75.89%) as compared to males (66.12%) and the variation being statistically non-significant (P > 0.05).

Comparison of Fecal Egg Counts and ELISA for the Diagnosis of Dicrocoelium Dendriticum Infection

From economical point of view, Dicrocoelium Dendriticum (D. dendriticum) causes a lot of damages to the livestock industry annually. So, the rapid diagnosis of infection is very important. The diagnosis is based on egg per count of feces (EPG) test because detection according to clinical symptoms is difficult. Since EPG is not accurate and sensitive, the serological methods become important for the diagnosis of this parasite as they are more accurate in comparison to EPG test and they are able to diagnose infection in a short time. In this study, somatic and Excretory-secretory antigens (EsAg) were isolated. The ELISA test was set up according to positive and negative sera and the results which were obtained compared to those obtained by the EPG test. The prevalence of infection in 550 samples by ELISA and EPG methods were 56% and 7% respectively, which shows the significant difference between these methods in examining the rate of infection. Based on the results, the specificity and sensitivity in ELISA test were 95% and 94%, respectively. The results showed that the ELISA is a more reliable test in comparison to EPG test for the rapid diagnosis of D. dendriticum infection.