Control of fascioliasis in heifers in Czechoslovakia 1970-1985

A programme for the control of fascioliasis caused by F. hepatica in cattle was launched in 1970 and continued until 1985. The animals were subjected to helminth-control treatment and preventive measures were taken in the herds. The anti-fasciolics Bilevon M and to some extent also Bromsalan pulv. were administered by the veterinary service on the basis of state subsidies in 1973 to 1979. The preparation Helmisan (Spofa) has been in use since 1980; its production is subsidized by the agricultural enterprises. In the period from 1972 ot 1979, up to 213 thousand helminth-control treatments (both therapeutic and preventive) were performed every year in the cattle. All treatments reduced the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and pathological changes in the liver of the killed cattle (from 5.8% recorded in 1971 to 0.9 in 1980, on an national average). As a result, 29 districts are free from fascioliasis although the disease originally occurred in all districts of the Czech Socialist Republic. After ten years of purposeful use of antifasciolics, the findings were free from living flukes and the cattle only showed pathological changes after the action of F. hepatica. Since 1980 the extensity of the findings of F. hepatica in slaughtered cattle has ranged within one percent, though living flukes have recently occurred again in the liver of certain animals. In the enzootically affected regions and districts of the Czech Socialist Republic the fascioliasis control programme succeeded in reducing the number of invaded cattle herds.