NTPDase and 5′-nucleotidase as inflammatory markers in cattle naturally infected by Eurytrema coelomaticum

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.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Eurytrema spp. Looss, 1907 detected in domestic water buffaloes and cattle in northern Vietnam

Eurytrema spp. are pancreatic flukes belonging to the Dicrocoeliidae family. They are the cause of neglected diseases in Vietnam and are responsible for economic losses in ruminant production, particularly in water buffaloes and cattle. Eurytrema spp. have been widely reported in several Asian countries. Recently, morphological and molecular analyses to discriminate Eurytrema spp. have been conducted in Brazil, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indonesia; however, similar analyses have not been performed in Vietnam. In the present study, we identified Eurytrema flukes collected from water buffaloes and cattle in northern Vietnam based on their morphology. Morphometric analyses were conducted on 15 samples each of Eurytrema cladorchis and Eurytrema coelomaticum. Representative samples from both species were selected for molecular analyses, and the nucleotide sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) were determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA sequences revealed that E. cladorchis from Vietnam belongs to the same clade as that from Bangladesh. Similarly, E. coelomaticum isolates from Vietnam and China belonged to the same clade. Both clades were isolated from E. pancreaticum. This is the first study to describe the coexistence of E. cladorchis and E. coelomaticum in Vietnam and the first report of the ITS2 nucleotide sequence for E. coelomaticum, which can be used for molecular species discrimination.

Pancreatic eurytrematosis in small ruminants: A forgotten disease or an untold history?

Trematodiosis are among the most neglected parasitic diseases worldwide. The pancreatic eurytrematosis (PE) is a chronic parasitic infection mostly reported in cattle but has been unnoticed in small ruminants for many decades. Our review showed PE has been recorded as scattered regional reports in goats and sheep, mainly in Asia and Eastern Europe. Eurytrema coelomaticum, Eurytrema cladorchis, and Eurytrema pancreaticum have been the main pathogenic species infecting pancreatic ducts of small ruminants. Climatic, environmental, and regional conditions in both hemispheres may support the survival and feasibility of intermediate hosts and parasitic forms, enabling the emergence and spread of PE in small ruminants. As a primarily asymptomatic condition, PE in goats and sheep flocks may also have a high prevalence, causing severe parasitic pancreatitis, production losses, and death. There is little information on anthelmintic therapeutics for PE in small ruminants, and most used anti-fluke drugs are ineffective. PE is likely more unnoticed than a neglected trematodiosis in goats and sheep, or both from a global perspective.

Eurytrema coelomaticum natural infection in small ruminants: a neglected condition

Pancreatic eurytrematosis (PE) is an under diagnosed and neglected parasitosis in goats and sheep in the Americas. Clinical and pathological features of PE are not well defined in small ruminants worldwide. Natural cases of PE in small ruminants were detected in the Federal District, Brazil. A survey of necropsy records, including epidemiological and clinicopathological data, in goats and sheep was conducted. Most cases of PE occurred during the rainy season in adult females, with an incidence of 12.9% in goats and 0.8% in sheep. Clinical signs varied from asymptomatic infections to anorexia, lethargy, weakness, marked weight loss and death in some goats. Overall, most cases of PE in goats and sheep were incidental necropsy findings with minor pancreatic lesions. Three goats, however, showed severe chronic pancreatitis, dilation of major pancreatic ducts with numerous trematodes present and marked abdominal fat necrosis. Morphological and molecular characterization of flukes detected Eurytrema coelomaticum. Our findings shed light on the prevalence of E. coelomaticum infections in small ruminants in the region and highlight the possibility of severe and lethal cases in goats. PE must be further investigated in small ruminant populations in relevant livestock production regions of the Americas.

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.