The present study was conducted to evaluate the economic losses and temporal distribution of the prevalence of liver condemnation due to bovine fasciolosis. The abattoir in Atílio Vivácqua, in the South of the State of Espírito Santo, which is under state inspection by the veterinary service of the Livestock and Forest Protection Institute of Espírito Santo, was used as the data source. The prevalence of liver condemnation due to fasciolosis over the period 2006-2009 was calculated. The χ(2) test, simple linear regression analysis and χ(2) for trend were used, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Over the period analyzed, 110,956 cattle were slaughtered and the prevalence of liver condemnation due to Fasciola hepatica was 15.24% in 2006, 23.93% in 2007, 28.57% in 2008 and 28.24% in 2009. The historical trend of liver condemnation is an increasing trend, thus indicating that this parasitism has become established in the herd as a problem in this region, with prevalence similar to that of traditionally endemic regions. Condemnations occurred throughout the year, with the highest prevalence in April and May and with significant differences between the dry and wet seasons. The economic losses from liver condemnation can be considered high.

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to record the presence of Fasciola hepatica in sheep, goats and buffaloes in ten southern municipalities of the Espírito Santo state and to relate determinant factors of the disease in this region. A total of 34 properties in sheep, goats and buffaloes was visited by collecting fecal samples of these species to the sedimentation procedure. A total of 58 (13.68%) samples of sheep, 76 (21.78%) samples of goats and 10 (23.81%) samples of buffaloes was positive for F. hepatica eggs. Molluscs collected were all identified as Lymnaea columella. We noted that the municipalities in the south of Espírito Santo have high rates of F. hepatica in sheep, goats and buffaloes, which makes this region a major focus of dispersal of the parasite, and that the occurrence of previous cases of fascioliasis in the properties was characterized as an epidemiological risk factor for the disease.KEYWORDS: epidemiology; fasciolosis; ruminants. RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar a presença deFasciola hepatica em ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos em dez municípios do sul do Espírito Santo e relacionar fatores determinantes da doença na região. Um total de 34 propriedades de ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos foi visitado coletando-se amostras fecais dessas espécies para procedimento da técnica de sedimentação. Um total de 58 (13,68%) amostras de ovinos, 76 (21,78%) amostras de caprinos e 10 (23,81%) amostras de bubalinos foram positivas para ovos de F. hepatica. Todos os moluscos coletados foram identificados como pertencentes à espécie Lymnaea columella. Notou-se que os municípios da região sul do Espírito Santo apresentam altas taxas de F. hepatica em ovinos, caprinos e bubalinos, tornando essa região um grande foco de dispersão da parasitose, e que a ocorrência de casos anteriores de fasciolose nas propriedades ficou caracterizada como fator de risco epidemiológico para a doença.

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The aim of this study was to monitor the population density of Lymnaea columella, an intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, in various aquatic habitats and in drinking water in the area of the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Espírito Santo, on Caparaó Microregion, municipality of Alegre, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Monthly samplings were performed at certain points between drainage areas and drinking water in cattle and goat production systems during the years 2010 to 2013. The mean temperature, precipitation and the frequency of samples of L. columella were analysed graphically according the monthly average during the study period. A total of 2,038 molluscs were collected, 1558 of which were L. columella, that predominated in all sampled points. The highest average of specimens observed for L. columella was in the years 2010 and 2013 (51.0), and occurred decreased in 2011 (19.8). The temperature and precipitation averaged is 23.7 °C and 141 mm/year, respectively. Rainfall peak occurred in March (2011, 2013) and November (2012, during these periods the population of L. columella growth. There was no significant difference in the relationship between the specimens observed with seasons (dry-wet), thus the population of L. columella remained stable and can be found throughout the year.

Currently, albendazole is one of the most commonly used drugs because of its affordability. The objective was to evaluate the histopathology of Fasciola hepatica specimens. For this, the efficacy test was performed on sheep treated with albendazole at the dose recommended for F. hepatica, in which the helminths recovered at necropsy were counted and separated for histology. Spermatogenic cells from parasites recovered from treated and control sheep were examined by microscopy. The fecal egg-count reduction test revealed 97.06% efficacy of albendazole in the treatment of F. hepatica. Changes in testicular tubule cells started 48 hours after treatment and became evident within 72 hours, at which point it became difficult to identify cell types. Primary and secondary spermatogonia became increasingly rare and intercellular vacuolization was more evident. Signs of apoptosis, with pycnotic nuclei and evidence of keriorrexia were observed at all times. Cell debris was identified 96 hours after treatment. The results indicated that parasitic spermatogenesis was severely affected by albendazole and demonstrated the importance of the use of histopathology for the diagnosis of therapeutic efficacy in field strains.