The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in cattle, goats and sheep from the municipalities of Guaymas and Cajeme, Sonora State, Mexico using the indirect ELISA and Benedeck's sedimentation tests. A total of 2,936 serum and fecal samples from 1,346 bovines, 1,199 goats and 381 sheep were analyzed. Other parameters such as breed and age were also taken into consideration. The results indicated a moderate percentage of prevalence for fasciolosis in these municipalities. In bovines, a prevalence of 11.4 +/- 0.9 was found using the sedimentation test and 24.4 +/- 1.2 for the indirect ELISA. In goats, a prevalence of 24.5 +/- 1.2 was found for the fecal analysis and 43 +/- 1.5 for the indirect ELISA. In sheep, the prevalence for both tests was 19.4 +/- 2.0 and 30.6 +/- 2.7, respectively. Results showed a greater proportion of positive animals when the ELISA test was used than when the Benedeck's sedimentation test was applied. Moderate agreement was observed between both laboratory tests for the three species of ruminants included in the study (Cohen's kappa, K; cattle K=0.527, goats K=0.541 and sheep K=0.539).

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate, under in vitro conditions, the activity of 20 plant extracts against newly excysted Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. The plants were selected on the basis of anthelmintic activity, traditional use, availability, solubility, and permanence in the liver. For the in vitro evaluation, 24-well Nunc-immunoplates containing RPMI-1640 culture medium bovine sera plus antibiotics were used. Extract concentrations of 500 and 50 mg/mL were placed in triplicate. Approximately 10 newly excysted flukes were placed in each well, and the plates were incubated in a CO(2) incubator at 5% atmosphere for 3 days. In each plate four control wells containing nontreated flukes were included. All procedures were undertaken under an air-flow cabinet. Efficacy was measured on days 1 and 3 by considering the motility of the live or dead trematodes evaluated with the aid of an inverted microscope. Results indicated that, from all extracts evaluated, Tilia mexicana showed an average efficacy for concentrations of 500 and 50 mg/mL, respectively, of 100 and 100%; Eriobotrya japonica, 100 and 95%; Coffea arabica, 100 and 100%; Crataegus mexicana, 95 and 90%; and Ternstroemia pringlei 100 and 100%. From this preliminary evaluation, we conclude that further and more detailed evaluations at lower concentrations should be undertaken to understand the real efficacy of these plant extracts.

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