Bovine and ovine rumen fluke in Ireland—Prevalence, risk factors and species identity based on passive veterinary surveillance and abattoir findings

Toolan, D.; Mitchell, Gillian; Searle, Kate R.; Sheehan, Maresa; Skuce, Philip; Zadoks, Ruth N.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.07.040

Cited by 51 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…hepatica prevalence was observed in males than in female; reflecting male-biased parasitism observed in other ungulates (e.g., gastrointestinal worm burden attributed to stress hormones in chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra ) [40], and rumen fluke prevalence in cattle [41]). We eliminated the potentially confounding factor of age by considering only mature animals, though the observed sex bias remains entangled with temporal effects, as males are harvested earlier (August—October) than females (October—February).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Coproantigen ELISA Is a Practicable Alternative to Faecal Egg Counting for Surveillance in Remote Populations

et al. 2016

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Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are hosts of liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica); yet, prevalence is rarely quantified in wild populations. Testing fresh samples from remote regions by faecal examination (FE) can be logistically challenging; hence, we appraise frozen storage and the use of a coproantigen ELISA (cELISA) for F. hepatica surveillance. We also present cELISA surveillance data for red deer from the Highlands of Scotland. Diagnoses in faecal samples (207 frozen, 146 fresh) were compared using a cELISA and by FE. For each storage method (frozen or fresh), agreement between the two diagnostics was estimated at individual and population levels, where population prevalence was stratified into cohorts (e.g., by sampling location). To approximate sensitivity and specificity, 65 post-slaughter whole liver examinations were used as a reference. At the individual level, FE and cELISA diagnoses agreed moderately (κfrozen = 0.46; κfresh = 0.51), a likely reflection of their underlying principles. At the population level, FE and cELISA cohort prevalence correlated strongly (Pearson’s R = 0.89, p < 0.0001), reflecting good agreement on relative differences between cohort prevalence. In frozen samples, prevalence by cELISA exceeded FE overall (42.8% vs. 25.8%) and in 9/12 cohorts, alluding to differences in sensitivity; though, in fresh samples, no significant difference was found. In 959 deer tested by cELISA across the Scottish Highlands, infection prevalence ranged from 9.6% to 53% by sampling location. We highlight two key advantages of cELISA over FE: i) the ability to store samples long term (frozen) without apparent loss in diagnostic power; and ii) reduced labour and the ability to process large batches. Further evaluation of cELISA sensitivity in red deer, where a range of fluke burdens can be obtained, is desirable. In the interim, the cELISA is a practicable diagnostic for F. hepatica surveillance in red deer, and its application here has revealed considerable geographic, temporal, sex and age related differences in F. hepatica prevalence in wild Scottish Highland red deer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Coproantigen ELISA Is a Practicable Alternative to Faecal Egg Counting for Surveillance in Remote Populations

et al. 2016

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“…Recently there are reports of increasing number of cases of rumen flukes identified mainly as Calicophoron daubneyi in cattle and sheep in the republic of Ireland (Zintl et al, 2014, Toolan et al, 2015. The adult paramphistomes are regarded as commensals in the rumen as heavy infections are tolerated without causing any damage to the rumen (Dinnik, 1964) although immature parasites in the small intestine cause clinical disease (Aiello, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of bovine fasciolosis and other trematode infections in Nigeria

Elelu

Eisler

2017

J. Helminthol.

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“…However, rumen flukes, now known to be Calicophoron daubneyi (Gordon et al, 2013) have since become commonplace in United Kingdom (Foster et al, 2008) and Irish (Murphy et al, 2008;Zintl et al, 2014;Toolan et al, 2015) cattle, while their prevalence has increased in mainland European cattle (Mage et al, 2002), renewing interest in their biology, epidemiology and economic importance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on the biology, epidemiology and economic relevance of rumen flukes (Paramphistomidae) in cattle kept in a temperate environment

Sargison

Francis

Davison

et al. 2016

Veterinary Parasitology

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There is concern about the probable recent introduction, increased prevalence and potential economic impact of rumen fluke infection of United Kingdom cattle. A study of 339 cattle slaughtered in a Scottish red meat abattoir was undertaken with the aims of describing the prevalence and geographical distribution of rumen fluke infection, estimating its effect on production, and evaluating faecal egg counts (FECs) as a tool to diagnose infection in live animals and study the epidemiology of the disease. The overall proportion of cattle consigned to the abattoir from northern United Kingdom with rumen fluke infection in the forestomachs was 0.29. Rumen flukes were distributed predominantly in the cranial sac of the rumen and adjacent to the reticular groove. Overall, a mean of 213 and median of 44 rumen flukes was identified in the forestomachs of rumen fluke-positive cattle. The mean and median FECs of animals were 26.01 and 5.20 eggs per gram (epg), respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean FECs per rumen fluke of 0.08 and 0.13 epg during summer/autumn and winter sampling periods, respectively. The overall correlation between rumen fluke FECs and the number of flukes in the forestomach was high, albeit lower in the summer/autumn than in the winter period. The sensitivities of rumen fluke FECs for the identification of flukes in the forestomach during the summer/autumn and winter sampling periods were 0.65 and 0.85, respectively. These results will aid in the interpretation of rumen fluke FECs when monitoring cattle health and production and studying the parasite's epidemiology in a temperate environment, thereby informing rational, precise and sustainable disease control.

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Bovine and ovine rumen fluke in Ireland—Prevalence, risk factors and species identity based on passive veterinary surveillance and abattoir findings

Cited by 51 publications

References 22 publications

Prevalence of Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Coproantigen ELISA Is a Practicable Alternative to Faecal Egg Counting for Surveillance in Remote Populations

Prevalence of Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in Wild Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Coproantigen ELISA Is a Practicable Alternative to Faecal Egg Counting for Surveillance in Remote Populations

A review of bovine fasciolosis and other trematode infections in Nigeria

Observations on the biology, epidemiology and economic relevance of rumen flukes (Paramphistomidae) in cattle kept in a temperate environment

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