Hepatic fibrosis and Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of fibrosis of the liver of cattle with Fasciola hepatica infection, correlating with the intensity of infection. Animals with an established diagnosis of chronic F. hepatica infection were identified in a slaughterhouse in Lima, Peru. The study included 24 fresh cattle livers from infected animals and two uninfected controls. Tissues were stored at 4 degrees C for approximately 8 h after which they were brought to a necropsy room and examined. Between 9 and 12 biopsies were randomly obtained from each liver. Histological staining of formalin-fixed liver sections with haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and Masson's trichrome were performed. Liver samples were examined using a pathology protocol that included 30 items. Histopathologically, 16 out of 30 liver specimens (67.6%) showed diffuse fibrotic lesions (cirrhosis) with a mean number of Fasciola of 116 +/- 30 (range 4-435). Pathological data were matched to number of adult parasites and presence of cirrhosis after being reviewed by two independent pathologists. There was concordance between the two pathologists (K = 0.72). The group with cirrhosis showed an average of 116 +/- 30 adult parasites whereas the group not showing cirrhosis contained 56 +/- 28 flukes (P = 0.2). To measure how number of flukes and diagnosis of cirrhosis are related we used Kendall's tau-b coefficient; the correlation was +0.296 (P = 0.04). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve results showed that the best point was 38 parasite adults, which had 93.8% sensitivity and 75% specificity. We conclude that as the number of F. hepatica adult forms increases, the likelihood of developing liver fibrosis will also increase in cattle.

Immunohistochemical Characterization of Macrophages and Myofibroblasts in Fibrotic Liver Lesions Due to <i>Fasciola</i> Infection in Cattle

“…Such significant economic loss due to liver fluke infection is a major public health problem in some parts of the world, especially in East Asia, East Europe, Africa and Latin America [26,27,50]. However, the pathological events in liver fluke infection-associated biliary fibrosis have not been investigated in detail at cellular levels, although the appearance of eosinophils is well known [28].…”

“…In the infection, hepatocyte damage is caused by migration of immature parasites at the acute stage; then, adult parasites invade bile ducts in the Glisson's sheath and settle within the ducts at the chronic stage [1]. The infection causes cholangitis, cholangiocyte hyperplasia and biliary fibrosis, and cirrhosis may be developed in cattle with severe and persistent infection [28]; this condition may result in poor weight gain, reduced milk and meat yield, and infertility at the final stage [22,30]. Such significant economic loss due to liver fluke infection is a major public health problem in some parts of the world, especially in East Asia, East Europe, Africa and Latin America [26,27,50].…”

Burden of Fasciola hepatica Infection among Children from Paucartambo in Cusco, Peru

“…Other poorly characterized long-term complications may include liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which could add to the burden of disease. 10,11 Thus, fascioliasis has potential severe long-term consequences among children in developing countries even when subclinical. Research on the extent and importance of illnesses associated with the infection is needed.…”

Vasculitis secundaria a infección por Fasciola hepática

“…El fas2-ELISA se utiliza como prueba diagnóstica confirmatoria de Fasciola hepática, tiene una sensibilidad del 92,4%, especificidad del 83,6% y valor predictivo negativo del 97,2% (11,12) . En el paciente expuesto, además de la confirmación serológica, el diagnóstico se complementó con el antecedente epidemiológico de ingesta de berros y el lugar de procedencia.…”