Comparison of the activity of some fasciolicides against immature liver fluke in calves

The anthelmintic activities of nitroxynil, closantel and rafoxanide were tested in cattle against six- and eight-week-old infections of Fasciola hepatica. Administered by subcutaneous injection, nitroxynil and rafoxanide at dose rates of 10 and 3 mg/kg bodyweight respectively were 88.5 and 36.1 per cent effective in eliminating a six-week-old infection of F hepatica and 85.8 and 60.4 per cent effective against an eight-week-old infection. Closantel administered by intramuscular injection at a dose rate of 2.5 mg/kg bodyweight was 60.0 per cent effective against an eight-week-old F hepatica infection.     

Experimental infection of cats with the liver fluke Platynosomum concinnum,.

The severity of Platynosomum concinnum infection in cats experimentally infected with 125 flukes (small dose) and 1,000 flukes (large dose) was determined by monitoring clinical signs and hematologic, serum biochemical, and pathologic changes during the infection. All cats (8/8) with a small fluke burden and 3 of 8 cats with a large burden remained clinically asymptomatic, whereas 60% of the cats given large doses had mild signs of inappetence and lethargy. Eosinophilia, peaking 4 to 5 months after infection, was present in all parasitized cats. During the early stages of platynosomiasis, a transient but substantial increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities was observed in cats given small and large doses. These observations agreed with gross and histopathologic observations, which included enlargement of the gallbladder and biliary ducts, with leukocyte infiltration, adenomatous hyperplasia, and fibrosis of the ductal areas.     

Potential for the spread of Fasciola hepatica in cattle in Oklahoma

In 29 central and western Oklahoma counties, 42 ranches were investigated for indigenous Fasciola hepatica infections and their suitability for the transmission of liver fluke. A 10-year retrospective study of Oklahoma cattle based on samples submitted to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory also was done. Indigenous fascioliasis was found in cattle in 12 counties (9 central and western counties identified in the combined field and retrospective studies and 3 additional eastern counties identified on the basis of the retrospective study). Factors essential for survival of free-living stages of F hepatica and for snail species necessary for propagation of the fluke existed in much of Oklahoma. Snails capable of serving as intermediate hosts for transmission of the fluke reportedly have been found in 41 of the 77 Oklahoma counties. Lymnaeid snails were detected in 4 counties in the field study.     

Effectiveness of movement-prevention regulations to reduce the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in The Netherlands

After the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in 2001 the Dutch government implemented movement-prevention regulations to reduce the number of contacts between farms and consequently the risk of spread of highly contagious animal infections in the future. We studied the efficacy of these regulations by comparing registered cattle-movement data from 2000 to those from 2002. We also used the spatial and stochastic simulation model InterFMD to evaluate the consequences of the observed alterations in cattle-contact structure on the spread and control of a FMD epidemic.

There was a significant decrease in the number of cattle movements “for live use”, no difference in the number of group movements “for live use” and a distinct change in the overall contact structure. The most important structure changes were a decrease in the number of group movements from dairy farms to cattle-collection centres (−44%), and an increase in the number of group movements from dairy farms to beef farms (111%).

Our simulations demonstrated that the implemented regulations result in a concentration of the FMD-affected area and therefore in a reduction in size of the epidemics. Based on the intended Dutch strategy to control future FMD outbreaks, the decrease in extreme epidemics (95th percentiles) went from 31 infected farms in an epidemic-length of 65 days to 8 infected farms in an epidemic-length of 53 days in sparsely populated areas. In densely populated areas this decrease went from 135 infected farms to 103, while the duration reduced from 88 days to 81.     

The energy metabolism of the adult common liver fluke,Fasciola hepatica

In adultFasciola hepatica glucose is broken down to volatile fatty acids, carbon dioxide and lactate. In the cytosol glucose is converted into malate and lactate and malate is metabolized further in the mitochondrial compartment via a dismutation. The dismutation of malate can proceed under anaerobic conditions. To a limited extent oxygen can function as terminal electron acceptor.It is shown that the reaction catalysed by fumarate reductase is a reversible reaction. The direction of the reaction depends on the relative concentrations of fumarate and succinate.Mechanisms of ATP production and electron transport under aerobic and anaerobic conditions are discussed. It is concluded that the energy metabolism of the adult liver fluke is adapted to the life in an environment with a low oxygen content.

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Kurzfassung Beim adultenFasciola hepatica wird Glucose in flüchtige Fettsäuren, Kohlendioxid und Laktate gespalten. Im Zytosol wird die Glucose in Malate und Laktate gespalten und Malate werden im Mitochondrienbereich durch Redox-Dismutation weiter verstoffwechselt. Die Dismutation der Malate kann unter anaeroben Bedingungen ablaufen. In gewissem Ausmass kann Sauerstoff terminal Elektronen binden.Es wird gezeigt, dass die Reaktion, die durch Fumaratreduktase katalysiert wird, reversibel ist. Der Ablauf der Reaktion hängt von den relativen Konzentrationen der Fumarate und Succinate ab.Ferner werden die Mechanismen der ATP-Produktion und des Elektronentransports unter aeroben und anaeroben Bedingungen diskutiert. Zusammenfassend wird festgestellt, dass der Energiestoffwechsel des adulten grossen Leberegels an ein Leben in einer sauerstoffarmen Umwelt adaptiert ist.

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Resume Chez les douves adultes le glucose est dégradé en acides gras volatil, gaz carbonique et lactate. Dans le cytosol le glucose est convertit en malate et en lactate et le malate est métabolisé ensuite dans la mitochondrie selon un phénomène de transformation biochimique. La transformation biochimique du malate peut se réaliser dans des conditions anaérobies. Dans une certaine mesure l'oxygène peut fonctionner comme un accepteur terminal d'électrons.Il est démontré que la réaction catalysée par la fumarate réductase est réversible. Le sens de la réaction dépend de la concentration relative en fumarate et succinate.Le mécanisme de production de l'ATP, du transport des électrons dans des conditions aérobies et anaérobies est discuté. Il est retenu que le métabolisme énergétique de la douve adulte est adapté à la vie dans un environnement pauvre en oxygène.

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Riassunto Negli adulti diFasciola hepatica il glucosio si scinde in acidi grassi volatili, biossido di carbonio e lattato. Nel citosol il glucosio è convertito in malato e lattato, ed il malato è ulteriormente metabolizzato nel comparto mitocondriale attraverso un processo di dismutazione. La dismutazione del malato può proseguire in condizioni di anaerobiosi. In misura limitata l'ossigeno può agire come accettore terminale di elettroni.E'stato dimostrato che la reazione catalizzata dalla fumarato-reduttasi è una reazione reversibile. La direzione della reazione dipende dalle concentrazioni relative di fumarato e di succinato.Vengono discussi i meccanismi di produzione di ATP e del trasporto di elettroni in condizione di aerobiosi e di anaerobiosi. Si conclude che il metabolismo energetico dell'adulto diFasciola hepatica è adattato alla vita in un ambiente con bassi livelli di ossigenazione.

     

The inactivity of diamphenethide against liver fluke in certain species of mammals.

Diamphenethide is inactive against Fasciola hepatica in the rat, although the free amine is active. Extracts of rat liver failed to deacetylate diamphenethide to give the free amine. Diamphenethide is active against fluke in the sheep, less effective in the cow and mouse and not active in the rabbit, even though liver extracts of all four species are capable of liberating the free amine.     

Economic and production consequences of liver fluke disease in double-muscled fattening cattle.

The frequency of liver fluke disease in fattening units was determined by the analysis of random faeces samples issued from 1,513 Belgian White Blue bulls aged from 5 to 7 months and weighing from 200 to 300 kg. 12.5% of the investigated bulls were positive for liver fluke disease. These bulls were spread over 56.5% of the investigated fattening units. Furthermore the infestation rate varied from 0 to 33.3% inside the fattening units. In order to assess the economic consequences of bovine fascioliasis in double-muscled cattle and the beneficial effects of a treatment against such a disease, a trial including 30 Belgian White Blue bulls, weighing 365 +/- 9 kg and aged from 10 to 12 months, was conducted in a selected fattening unit. On the basis of faecal examinations, the 30 animals were subdivided in negative (group A; n = 10) and positive animals (n = 20) for fascioliasis, the latter being either treated with nitroxinil (group B; n = 10) or not (group C; n = 10) on day 0 of this trial which was conducted during 75 days. The daily body gains in group C (1.661 +/- 0.140 kg) were significantly lower than those in group A (1.975 +/- 0.120 kg). On the other hand there was no significant difference between the daily body gains registered in group B (1.960 +/- 0.085 kg) and A. The estimated financial loss, due to flukes and accounted on a 75 day-period, averaged 2,748 Belgian Francs per bull in group C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)