Prevalence of ruminants fascioliasis and their economic effects in Kashan, center of Iran

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Fasciola hepatica in sheep in Nile Delta of Egypt

Fascioliasis is a globally distributed zoonotic parasitic disease that affects ruminants, including sheep. This study conducted from January to December 2023, aimed to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in sheep across three governorates in Egypt's Nile Delta and to assess associated risk factors. A total of 455 serum samples were analyzed using a commercial ELISA kit, revealing antibodies against F. hepatica in 22.2 % of the tested sheep. There was no significant association between locality or sex and the seroprevalence of F. hepatica in sheep; however, the highest prevalence was observed in Kafr ElSheikh and in female sheep. Concerning risk factors, poor conditioned sheep aged between 1 and 2 years showed 2.1 and 3.8 times higher of infection probability than others. In addition, the risk of F. hepatica infection in sheep increased significantly in winter season (OR = 6.6, 95 %CI: 2.6-16.8), in absence of prophylactic treatment (OR = 2.2, 95 %CI: 1.3-3.3) and in presence of snail (OR = 3, 95 %CI: 3-5.4). The existence of antibodies against F. hepatica in examined sheep raising in Nile Delta indicating that the disease is reported in the studied areas and needs to be managed on farms through control and preventative measures.

The Detection of Circulating Antigen Glutathione S-Transferase in Sheep Infected with Fasciola hepatica with Double-Antibody Sandwich Signal Amplification Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Fasciolosis is a global zoonotic parasitic disease caused by F. hepatica infection that is particularly harmful to cattle and sheep. A biotin-streptavidin signal amplification ELISA (streptavidin-ELISA/SA-ELISA) based on circulating antigens can allow for the early detection of F. hepatica-infected animals and is suitable for batch detection. It is considered to be a better means of detecting F. hepatica infection than traditional detection methods. In this study, using the serum of sheep artificially infected with F. hepatica, the cDNA expression library of F. hepatica was screened, 17 immunodominant antigen genes of F. hepatica were obtained, and glutathione s-transferase (GST) was selected as the candidate detection antigen. Firstly, the GST cDNA sequence was amplified from F. hepatica, followed by the preparation of recombinant protein GST (rFhGST). Then, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against rFhGST were prepared using the GST protein. Afterward, the immunolocalization of the target protein in the worm was observed via confocal microscopy, and it was found that the GST protein was localized in the uterus, intestinal tract, and body surface of F. hepatica. Finally, a double-antibody sandwich SA-ELISA based on the detection of circulating antigens was established. There was no cross-reaction with positive sera infected with Dicrocoelium lanceatum (D. lanceatum), Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus), Neospora caninum (N. caninum), or Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum). Forty serum and fecal samples from the same batch of sheep in Nong'an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China were analyzed using the established detection method and fecal detection method. The positive rate of the SA-ELISA was 17.5%, and the positive rate of the fecal detection method was 15%. The detection results of this method were 100% consistent with commercial ELISA kits. A total of 152 sheep serum samples were tested in Nong'an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, and the positive rate was 5.92%. This study laid the foundation for the development of serological detection preparations for F. hepatica infection based on the detection of circulating antigens.

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Domestic Mammalian Hosts in Southeastern Iran

Gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) are a major cause of disease and production loss in livestock. Some have zoonotic potential, so production animals can be a source of human infections. We describe the prevalence of GIP in domestic mammals in Southeastern Iran. Fresh fecal samples (n = 200) collected from cattle (n = 88), sheep (n = 50), goats (n = 23), camels (n = 30), donkeys (n = 5), horse (n = 1), and dogs (n = 3) were subjected to conventional coprological examination for the detection of protozoan (oo)cysts and helminth ova. Overall, 83% (166/200) of the samples were positive for one or more GIP. Helminths were found in dogs, donkeys, sheep (42%), camels (37%), goats (30%), and cattle (19%), but not in the horse. Protozoa were found in cattle (82%), goats (78%), sheep (60%), and camels (13%), but not in donkeys, dogs, or the horse. Lambs were 3.5 times more likely to be infected by protozoa than sheep (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.05–11.66), whereas sheep were at higher odds of being infected by helminths than lambs (OR = 4.09, 95% CI: 1.06–16.59). This is the first study assessing the prevalence of GIP in domestic mammals in Southeastern Iran.

Seasonal Occurrence of Cattle Fascioliasis in Kelantan, Malaysia

A longitudinal study was conducted in five randomly selected farms in Kelantan, Malaysia to determine the seasonal occurrence of cattle fascioliasis and its association with climatic factors. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected by a random purposive sampling method from July 2018 to June 2019. The faecal samples were examined for the presence of Fasciola eggs using a formalin ether sedimentation technique. Meteorological data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, and pan evaporation were obtained from a local meteorological station. The overall prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was 45.8%. The prevalence was observed to be slightly higher during the wet season from August to December (50–58%) than during the dry season from January to June (30–45%). Meanwhile, the mean eggs per gram (EPG) were highest in June (191.1 ± 0.48) and lowest in October (77.62 ± 95.5). However, there were no significant differences in the mean of EPG between the monthly prevalence, tested using one-way ANOVA (p = 0.1828). A statistically significant association (p = 0.014) was observed between the disease and cattle breeds, with Charolais and Brahman showing lower odds of having the disease. There were significant moderate-to-strong positive correlations between cattle fascioliasis and rainfall (r = 0.666; p = 0.018) and humidity (r = 0.808; p = 0.001), as well as strong negative correlations with evaporation (r = −0.829; p = 0.001). The results indicated that the higher prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was correlated with the climatic factors, which include higher rainfall and humidity and lower evaporation.

Economic losses, morpho-molecular identification, and identity of Fasciola species recovered from Egypt

A retrospective study to estimate economic losses caused by livers condemnation, due to fascioliasis, of slaughtered cattle and buffaloes in Egypt during the period of 2016-2020, was done. Moreover, a morpho-molecular identification of collected liver flukes from slaughtered animals in municipal abattoirs was conducted. Livers of naturally infected carcasses were obtained from slaughtered animals in Beni-Suef, Cairo and Tanta provinces, Egypt during 2019-2020 for phenotypic characterization of recovered Fasciola species and molecular identification of collected worms using PCR targeting the ITS-1 region. Findings of the retrospective study revealed that percentages of livers condemnation of cattle and buffaloes ranged from 0.79 to 0.66% during the period from 2016 to 2020. The highest percentages were detected in the south Egypt (2.5-6.0%) with the highest economic losses (261850-616300 USD annually). Morphometrically, collected flukes categorized into Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. No intermediate forms (Fasciola sp.-like) were detected. Sequencing analysis of ITS-1 PCR products showed that only Fasciola hepatica (26/34) and F. gigantica (8/34) isolates were found, with no intermediate forms, Fasciola sp.-like, could be identified. Currently, Fasciola hepatica was 100% identical with the Egyptian species (LC076196 and JF294998), French species (JF294999), and Iranian species (MF969009 and MK377150). Moreover, the obtained F. gigantica species showed 100% identity with Egyptian ones (LC076125, LC076108 and KX198619), Iranian (KF982047 and MF372919), and other GenBank specimens from Vietnam, Cameroon and India. In conclusion, South Egypt showed the highest economic losses due to fascioliasis, especially Aswan province. Fasciola hepatica was more common than F. gigantica, while the hybrid form was not detected.

First molecular evidence of Clostridium perfringens in adult Fasciola spp. isolates in cattle hosts

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by Fasciola spp. It is a prevalent helminth infection globally. Clostridial hepatitis is a general name refer to disorders caused by a few clostridial agents that most severely affect the liver. Migration of young parasite forms (mostly Fasciola hepatica) in the parenchymal tissue of the liver causes necrosis and anaerobic environment, stimulating the proliferation of C. novyi type B spores. This study investigated the occurrence of Clostridium spp in adult Fasciola spp isolates. Isolates (n = 100) were collected from the bile ducts of infected cattle after slaughter. Total genomic DNA was extracted from each sample. A multiplex-PCR based on the flagellin C (fliC) gene was used for quick identification of C. chauvoei, C. haemolyticum, C. novyi types A and B, and C. septicum. In addition, a pair of primers Cpa (F) and Cpa (R) were used for detection of the C. perfringens alpha toxin gene. The products were sequenced. No band was obtained after multiplex-PCR of the fliC gene. A 247 bp band was detected in two isolates using the Cpa primers. BLAST analysis of these two isolates characterized both as C. perfringens alpha toxin. This is the first description of the molecular detection of C. perfringens in flukes. Further studies are needed to investigate whether Clostridum species is also carried by other developmental forms (egg and larval stages) of Fasciola spp.

Current Status for Controlling the Overlooked Caprine Fasciolosis

The disease fasciolosis is caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, which infect a wide range of mammals and production livestock, including goats. These flatworm parasites are globally distributed and predicted to cost the livestock industry a now conservative USD 3 billion per year in treatment and lowered on-farm productivity. Infection poses a risk to animal welfare and results in lowered fertility rates and reduced production yields of meat, milk and wool. This zoonotic disease is estimated to infect over 600 million animals and up to 2.4 million humans. Current and future control is threatened with the global emergence of flukes resistant to anthelmintics. Drug resistance calls for immediate on-farm parasite management to ensure treatments are effective and re-infection rates are kept low, while a sustainable long-term control method, such as a vaccine, is being developed. Despite the recent expansion of the goat industry, particularly in developing countries, there are limited studies on goat-focused vaccine control studies and the effectiveness of drug treatments. There is a requirement to collate caprine-specific fasciolosis knowledge. This review will present the current status of liver fluke caprine infections and potential control methods for application in goat farming.

RNA interference dynamics in juvenile Fasciola hepatica are altered during in vitro growth and development

For over a decade RNA interference (RNAi) has been an important molecular tool for functional genomics studies in parasitic flatworms. Despite this, our understanding of RNAi dynamics in many flatworm parasites, such as the temperate liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), remains rudimentary. The ability to maintain developing juvenile fluke in vitro provides the opportunity to perform functional studies during development of the key pathogenic life stage. Here, we investigate the RNAi competence of developing juvenile liver fluke. Firstly, all life stages examined possess, and express, core candidate RNAi effectors encouraging the hypothesis that all life stages of F. hepatica are RNAi competent. RNAi effector analyses supported growing evidence that parasitic flatworms have evolved a separate clade of RNAi effectors with unknown function. Secondly, we assessed the impact of growth/development during in vitro culture on RNAi in F. hepatica juveniles and found that during the first week post-excystment liver fluke juveniles exhibit quantitatively lower RNAi mediated transcript knockdown when maintained in growth inducing media. This did not appear to occur in older in vitro juveniles, suggesting that rapidly shifting transcript dynamics over the first week following excystment alters RNAi efficacy after a single 24 h exposure to double stranded (ds)RNA. Finally, RNAi efficiency was found to be improved through use of a repeated dsRNA exposure methodology that has facilitated silencing of genes in a range of tissues, thereby increasing the utility of RNAi as a functional genomics tool in F. hepatica.

A Retrospective Study on Bovine Fascioliasis in Veterinary Regional Laboratories in Peninsular Malaysia

This is a retrospective study on bovine fascioliasis infection on cattle in Peninsular Malaysia, spanning from January 2007 to December 2017. Cattle were diagnosed with Fasciola based on the fecal examination and the results were reported to the Veterinary Regional Laboratories in Peninsular Malaysia. These records were analysed for the occurrence of bovine fascioliasis within that 11-year period. Records of annual diagnostic cases from five major Veterinary Regional Laboratories were examined: Bukit Tengah, Pulau Pinang (north); Kuantan, Pahang (east); Johor Bahru, Johor (south); Sepang, Selangor (west); and Kota Bharu, Kelantan (east). A positive fascioliasis infestation was calculated based on a number of positively infected cattle with Fasciola from a number of cattle examined. A total of 1988 cattle were examined during this period and 35 (1.76%) cattle were reported to be positive for bovine fascioliasis. Parasite infection was the highest at Bukit Tengah region (5.55%) where 19 cases were positive from 342 reported cases while, at Kuantan (4.96%), 15 positive cases were reported, unlike Johor Bahru (0.09%), with only 1 positive case from 1136 cattle examined. Sepang and Kelantan had no positive cases. These results showed that bovine fascioliasis was generally prevalent in the northern and southeast parts of the Peninsular Malaysia; however, there was no significant relationship between the region and the occurrence of fascioliasis.

Prevalence of fasciolosis in slaughtered dairy cattle from São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

Fasciolosis, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is considered one of the most important parasitosis in dairy cattle due to significant economic losses. The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis in dairy cattle slaughtered at São Miguel Island (SMI) slaughterhouse and to ascertain areas (parishes and dairy herds), within the island, with highest risk for fasciolosis. The association among cattle age and weight with the occurrence of fasciolosis was also determined. From a sample of 24,389 cattle slaughtered in two years (2015-2016), a total of 1134 dairy cattle livers were inspected and, during this period, 531 were positive to fasciolosis and 603 presented no typical fasciolosis lesions. This study showed that fasciolosis has a broad geographical distribution on SMI and that is also found in cattle from other islands of the Azores archipelago, namely Flores Island. Although there were no significant differences in weight between healthy animals and parasitized ones, we observed that the older animals present a greater level of liver lesions and a higher level of parasitization, reflecting their longer period of exposure to the risk factor (ingestion of metacercariae in pastures infested by Galba truncatula).

Preliminary Evidence for the Occurrence of β-tubulin Isotype 3 Polymorphisms in Fasciola Hepatica Isolates in Cattle and Sheep in Turkey

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a common parasitic disease of livestock especially sheep and cattle. In this study molecular characterization of β-tubulin isotype 3 gene in Fasciola hepatica isolates from cattle and sheep in Turkey was carried out. For this purpose a total of 80 adult Fasciola hepatica isolates were collected from 20 sheep and 20 cattle in Kayseri and Erzurum provinces. PCR-RFLP was performed on β-tubulin isotype 3 gene and MboII revealed two fragments of approximately 350 bp and 390 bp, whereas HphI enzyme yielded 210, 340 and 540 bp bands, HindII yielded 380 and 450 bp bands in all samples. A total of 80 isolates were tested by SSCP and all of them presented the same band profiles. Six samples (4 sheep and 2 cattle) were randomly selected and DNA sequence of a 935 bp coding fragment of β-tubulin isotype 3 was performed. Sheep samples were more polymorphic than the cattle. This β-tubulin isotype 3 gene polymorphism of F.hepatica isolates from sheep and cattle of two distinct geographical areas of Turkey have been investigated for the first time.

Trematodiasis occurrence in cattle along the Progo River, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

AIM

This study aimed to measure the occurrence of trematodiasis in cattle along the Progo River, a district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The findings help to establish the magnitude of the disease and encourage prevention and treatment of this condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Trematode eggs were extracted from 100 fecal samples collected from cattle. The eggs were examined using the sedimentation technique, and the method of Parfitt and Banks was used to differentiate Paramphistomum spp. eggs from Fasciola spp. eggs.

RESULTS

The infection rate of trematode parasites was 50%. Cattle experienced multiple infections of both Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola spp., as well as single infections of one species or the other. All breeds were vulnerable to infections of both trematode species, although different cattle breeds, including Peranakan Ongole crossbreeds, Simmental crossbreeds, and Limousin crossbreeds, showed differences in infection rate. The highest rate of infection with Paramphistomum spp. (15.78%) occurred in the Simmental crossbreeds. The highest rate of infection (31.57%) with Fasciola spp. was in the Peranakan Ongole crossbreeds. Multiple infections of both Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola spp. were highest in Simmental crossbreed cattle (28.97%).

CONCLUSION

The high infection rates of trematode parasites found in fecal samples, particularly of Fasciola spp., indicate that the cattle along the Progo River in Indonesia experience a high rate of trematodiasis disease.

An analysis of common foodborne parasitic zoonoses in slaughtered sheep and cattle in Tehran, Iran, during 2015-2018

Background and Aim:

Cystic echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus, and liver flukes, such as Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, are important parasitic zoonoses, where they able to cause significant veterinary, medical, and economic problems. The present study was carried out to obtain the updated knowledge on the frequency of hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and dicrocoeliosis in the slaughtered sheep and cattle.

Materials and Methods:

Information were collected from meat inspection records using systematically visual inspection, palpation, and incision of the visceral organs in the industrial abattoir in Tehran, the capital of Iran, between February 1, 2015, and January 31, 2018. For an analysis of the data, SPSS version 16 was applied.

Results:

The hydatidosis infection in sheep and cattle was 2.48% and 2.25%, respectively. With respect to liver flukes, 0.62% and 0.25% sheep and cattle were infected by Fasciola spp., respectively; furthermore, 2.86% sheep and 0.79% cattle were positive for D. dendriticum.

Conclusion:

The findings will provide considerable awareness for the future monitoring and control of these potentially important infections.

Prevalence of liver flukes infections and hydatidosis in slaughtered sheep and goats in Nishapour, Khorasan Razavi, Iran

Background:

Food-borne trematode infections and hydatidosis are endemic diseases caused by helminths in Iran that are responsible for great economic loss and getting public health at risk.

Aim:

Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis, dicrocoeliasis, and hydatidosis infections in slaughtered sheep and goats in Nishapour, Khorasan Razavi province of Iran.

Materials and Methods:

A survey was implemented on 130,107 sheep and goats slaughtered at an abattoir in Nishapour (Neyshbur) city, north central Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, to determine the prevalence of fascioliasis, dicrocoeliosis and presence of hydatidosis.

Results:

During a 1-year period of study, among 130,107 of sheep and goats slaughtered at Nishapour abattoir, 1064 and 7124 livers were condemned totally and partially, respectively. A total of 255 (0.19%), 181 (0.12 %), and 7751 (5.95%) of livers were condemned due to cysts of Echinococcus granulosus, flukes of Fasciola spp., and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, respectively. Totally, 1932 (1.48%) lungs were condemned due to hydatidosis. The significant seasonal pattern was seen for fasciolosis, dicrocoeliosis, and hydatidosis, statistically (p<0.01).

Conclusion:

According to this study, it seems that Neyshabour is considered as an endemic region for Fasciola spp. and D. dendriticum infections and D. dendriticum is the most widespread liver fluke found in sheep and goats.

Seasonal prevalence, body condition score and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in South Africa

Fasciolosis is an important zoonotic disease that is responsible for a significant loss in food resource and animal productivity. The objectives of this study were to determine the seasonal prevalence and risk factors associated with Fasciola infection in cattle. The results were obtained by coprology, antemortem and post-mortem survey of three abattoirs (HTPA1, n = 500, HTPA2, n = 400, and LTPA, n = 220). The seasonal prevalence of Fasciola infection was 10.4%, 12.8% and 10.9%, during summer, 11.2%, 10.8% and 8.6%, during autumn, 9.8%, 6.5% and 5.9% during winter and 8.2%, 7.8% and 5.9%, during spring in the three abattoirs HTPA1, HTPA and LTPA respectively. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between the intensity of infection and body condition score (BCS) of cattle at each abattoir. Factors such as age [HTPA1 (OR = 3.6, CI = 1.2, 10.2), and LTPA (OR = 3.8, CI= 2.4, 6.1)], sex [LTPA (OR = 4.2, CI= 2.5, 7.0)], breed [HTPA2 (OR = 2.3, CI = 1.3, 4.1) and LTPA (OR = 2.5, CI= 1.3, 5.0)] and BCS had significant (p < 0.01-0.001) influence on the prevalence of fasciolosis. In conclusion, the infection with Fasciola spp was higher in the summer than in the winter; a positive association was established between the prevalence of fasciolosis and poor body condition in study animals. This study, therefore, suggests that fasciolosis could be causing substantial production losses, mainly due to cattle weight loss and liver condemnation.

Financial loss estimation of bovine fasciolosis in slaughtered cattle in South Africa

South Africa's livestock population is rapidly evolving and consequently will require sustained epidemiological surveillance to detect and prevent diseases which contribute to a decrease in livestock productivity, public health risk and food wastage. Fasciola infection is one of the commonest diseases affecting livestock health and a significant portion of meat and offal's are declared unfit for human consumption. This study assessed the prevalence and monetary losses associated with Fasciola infection at three abattoirs in Eastern Cape Province. A retrospective data of all slaughtered cattle were obtained from Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) from 2010–2012. A prospective abattoir survey was conducted between July 2013 and June 2014 to determine the prevalence and financial loss due to fasciolosis.

The highest prevalence was in December and January (23%) while the lowest prevalence was recorded in May and June (5%). Annual prevalence of Fasciola at abattoirs AB1, were (3.2%, 2.2% and 2.0%), AB2 (6.4%, 4.6% and 3.5%), AB3 (14.4%, 6.9% and 9.5%) for year 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. The total financial loss due to Fasciola infection during the active survey of the three abattoirs was ZAR 44, 930 (3456.2 USD). A breakdown of this figure shows that whole liver condemnation was ZAR 25, 230 (2, 357 USD), and partial liver condemnation was ZAR 19, 700 (1515.4 USD).

The present study reveals the economic loss due to liver condemnation from Fasciola infection and provides regional baseline information regarding the prevalence of Fasciola in cattle at three abattoirs.

A review on epidemiology, global prevalence and economical losses of fasciolosis in ruminants

Fasciolosis is an important plant borne trematode zoonosis in ruminants caused by the Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigentica, It is classified as a neglected tropical disease and found in more than 50 countries especially where sheep and cattle are reared. Fasciolosis is a serious animal health problems in many rural and urban areas of world, causing significant financial losses due to decrease in production and viscera condemnation in animals. Accurate diagnosis of fasciolosis is always remained a challenging task for the field practitioners. There is no comprehensive summary on the occurrence and distribution of the infection at international level. Therefore, we intended to provide a complete overview on the prevalence and epidemiology of fasciolosis in farm animals from a global prospective. It includes to map the global distribution of fasciolosis in different areas of the world to identify the endemic regions which may be a source of potential disease outbreak. The financial liability related to fasciolosis on the livestock production has also been addressed. For this purpose, the published data during 2000-2015 (15 years) on fasciolosis was reviewed and collected by electronic literature search of four databases including Google, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Data presented are contemplated to enhance our current understanding of the parasite's geographical distribution, host range, and economic losses. Information provided would be useful for the application of more effective control strategies against fasciolosis in different geo-economics regions of the world.

Comparative Diagnosis of Serum IgG1 and Coproantigen ELISA for Fasciolosis Detection of Goats in Mexico

The objective of present study was to determine the prevalence of natural caprine fasciolosis in the Mixteca region of Mexico using coproantigen and serum IgG1 ELISA tests for comparative purposes. A total of 1070 serum and faecal samples were analyzed for IgG1 antibodies and coproantigens, using ELISA with E/S products as antigen and a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA. Prevalence of 73.46% was found using the serological ELISA and a percentage of 77.20 was found for coproantigen ELISA. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for serum ELISA were 86.7% and 96.4%, and for the coproantigen ELISA they were 93.1% and 97.8%, respectively. The seropositive samples were further categorized as low, medium, or high positivity. Results show a great proportion of low and medium positive goats when the serum ELISA test was used. Correlation coefficients between coproantigens and seropositivity were statistically significant (P < 0.01) for low seropositivity (r = 0.93) and medium seropositivity (r = 0.84). The accuracy of faecal antigen ELISA was higher compared to indirect ELISA serological test. Two ELISAs were shown to be useful for demonstrating the current status of F. hepatica infection in the endemic areas and can be employed in studies on epidemiology as well as anthelmintics treatment for preventing economic loss and the risk of transmission to humans.

Hepatic and seric levels of purines in rats experimentally infected by Fasciola hepatica

The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic and seric levels of purines, as well as their breakdown products in rats infected by Fasciola hepatica on days 15 and 87 post-infection (PI). Rats were divided into two groups: uninfected (n = 10) and infected (n = 20). On day 15 (n = 5 for uninfected group and n = 10 for infected group) and 87 PI (n = 5 for uninfected group and n = 10 for infected group), animals were euthanized for sampling to evaluate levels of purines by high-performance liquid chromatography. In serum, ATP increased (P < 0.05) and ADP decreased (P < 0.05) on days 15 and 87 PI, while AMP increased (P < 0.05) only on day 15 PI. Hypoxanthine levels increased (P < 0.05) on days 15 and 87 PI, while adenosine and xanthine levels decreased and increased (P < 0.05), respectively, on day 87 PI. No difference was observed regarding seric inosine and uric acid (P > 0.05). Hepatic ATP, adenosine, and uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.05) on days 15 and 87 PI. AMP levels decreased (P < 0.05) on day 87 PI, while xanthine levels increased (P < 0.05) on day 15 PI in the liver. Also in the liver, hypoxanthine levels increased (P < 0.05) on day 15 PI and decreased (P < 0.05) on day 87 PI. On the other hand, there was no difference on hepatic ADP and inosine levels (P > 0.05). Therefore, it is possible to conclude that F. hepatica infection can change purine levels, which may be associated with an inflammatory process, and these alterations may influence fasciolosis pathogenesis.