PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE-II

Ninth semester
Course Code: VEP-513
Lecture notes

Definition, incidence, etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis,

transmission, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, prevention
and control of Fasciolosis.

Dr. Jibachha Sah, M.V.Sc (T.U.)

Lecturer, College of veterinary science.
NPI, Bhojard, Chitwan, Nepal.
jibachhashah@gmail.com
Contents
●Definition,

● Prevalence

● Etiology,

● Epidemiology,

● Pathogenesis,

● Transmission,

● Clinical findings,

● Diagnosis,

● Treatment,

● Prevention and control

Definition:
Fasciola hepatica, also known as the common liver fluke or sheep
liver fluke, is a parasitic trematode (fluke or flatworm, a type
of helminth) of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. It
infects the livers of various mammals, including humans.

It is a parasitic flatworm that can live within a wide range of

hosts and is of major importance in livestock (cattle, sheep,
and goats)

Fasciolosis is currently classified as a plant/food-

borne trematode infection, often acquired through eating the
parasite's metacercariae encysted on plants.
Predisposing factor
Liver fluke infections in cattle depend on a number of
predisposing factors:

• The presence of freshwater snails (intermediate host) on the farm

• The presence of suitable habitat which includes wet, marshy areas

or ponds. The water must be slow moving or still

• Rainfall which helps to wash the eggs out of faeces. Rainfall also

maintains the water bodies where snails can survive

• Temperature also plays a big role in influencing infestations. Both

liver fluke and snails thrive in warmer conditions

● Prevalence

LIVER FLUKE: TYPICAL HABITAT

● Etiology

TWO IMPORTANT SPECIES IN CATTLE

Asian
● Epidemiology
Liver fluke has a somewhat complex life cycle in
which adult fluke, present in the bile duct of infected
animals lay eggs.

These eggs pass out in faeces and under correct conditions

of humidity and climatic temperature (>10C) they hatch
and the resultant life cycle stage (miracidia) enter a snail.
Lifecycle of fasciola in cattle
 Lymnaeid species

Lifecycle of fasciola in sheep

Pathogenesis
● Clinical findings,
Liver fluke cause severe damage to the liver, resulting in:

• Haemorrhage and blood loss

• Anaemia
• Liver scaring
• Reduced appetite
• Possible death
• Protein loss
• Loss of liver function
• Reduced immunity
• Reduced reproduction
• Reduced production
LIVER FLUKE INFESTATION: • ACUTE
CLINICAL FORMS OF THE
DISEASE
• Sudden severe
illness/death, soon
after infection
(animals otherwise
look healthy)
• Caused by massive
intake of larvae
• Severe liver
damage massive
blood loss
• More likely to occur
in young animals
LIVER FLUKE INFESTATION: • SUBACUTE
CLINICAL FORMS OF THE
DISEASE
•Severe illness/occasional
death

• Caused by moderate intake

of larvae

• On going liver damage and

blood loss

• Death most likely to occur

when immature flukes are
largest (~8 weeks post-
infection)

• Some clinical signs prior to

death

• More likely to occur in

young animals
 LIVER FLUKE INFESTATION: • CHRONIC
CLINICAL FORMS OF THE
DISEASE
• Parasites acquired over time

• Clinical signs include

lethargy, anaemia, emaciation,
bottle jaw, distended abdomen

• On going low level liver

damage and blood loss

• Death unlikely

• Occurs in animals of all

ages

Bottle jaw condition due to hypoproteinaemia

 Impact on
production
• Milk loss due to liver
fluke infections are up to 1
kg/day over a lactation
(5).

• A heavy infection can

cost around 300 litres in
lost milk production per
cow per year

• A high incidence of liver

fl uke infestation can
reduce milk butterfat
concentration (3)
● Pathogenesis
These immatures develop into adults which suck blood from the lining of the bile ducts,
causing significant blood loss and liver damage in heavy infestations ("chronic" liver fluke disease).
In cattle, the "chronic" disease is more common and is similar to that seen in sheep.

Progressive irritation by the adult flukes wandering in the biliary tract

cause biliary inflammation like hyperplastic cholangitis, ductular wall
thickening, and intra- and extrahepatic biliary dilatation
● Transmission,

Liver flukes cannot be transmitted from person to person. Liver

flukes are parasitic worms that live in the bile ducts and the liver of
infected animals.

These parasites cause a disease called fascioliasis in people, cattle,

and sheep
● Diagnosis
Chronic fasciolosis is diagnosed by demonstration of fluke eggs in faecal samples.
DIAGNOSTIC METHODS: BLOOD AND MILK
ELISA ANTIBODY TEST
Pathology lesion

Chronic liver fluke infection in cattle, with bile

duct distension (Gross)
Histopathology
Clinical pathology
Significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) count, lymphocytes,
hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular
hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and albumin were
recorded in sheep from the infected herd, whereas white blood
cell (WBC) count, eosinophil, segmented and band neutrophil
count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma-glutamyl
transferase (GGT), concentrations of glucose, and globulins were
significantly higher than in the parasite free herd.(Matanovi,K .2007 Parasitology
Research 101(6):1657-61)
● Treatment
Anthelmintic Dose
Oxyclozanide 13-15 mg/kg body weight

Rafoxanide 11.25 mg/kg bw

Tricalbendazole 7.5 mg/kg in sheep and 10 mg/kg

in cattle.
Closental 10 mg/kg body weight oral &sheep and
is administered subcutaneously in
the dose range of 2.5 to 5 mg/kg BW
Clorsulon single oral dose of 7 mg/kg

Nitroxynil 1.25 ml per 35 kg bodyweight

Albendazole 7.5 mg/kg in sheep and 10 mg/kg

in cattle.
● Control of Fasciolosis
Prevention