Host differences in response to trickle infection with Fasciola gigantica in buffalo, Ongole and Bali calves

Abstract

Progressive weight gain, faecal egg counts, packed cell volume, percent eosinophils in blood, serum antibody and serum levels of glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were recorded in seven swamp buffalo (Bubalis bubalis), 7 Ongole (Bos indicus) and four Bali calves (Bos sundiacus) which were infected orally with 15 metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica twice weekly for 32 weeks. Similar observations were made on four buffalo, 4 Ongole calves and 3 Bali calves maintained fluke-free as controls. Flukes were counted at slaughter 36 weeks after initial infection. Mean daily weight gains of infected Bali (228 +/- 100 (SD) g/day) and infected Ongole calves (328 +/- 57 (SD) g/day) were lower (p = 0.026 and 0.067, respectively) than those of control calves (405 +/- 107 (SD) g/day), but infected buffalo calves (379 +/- 78 (SD) g/day) had similar weight gains to those of the controls (p = 0.57). Throughout the trial, faecal Fasciola egg counts in buffaloes were about one-fifth of counts of Ongole calves, and counts in Bali calves were intermediate. Ongole calves had three times the number of flukes at slaughter in their liver compared to buffalo and Bali calves, which had similar numbers. However, there was evidence that Bali calves had acquired a degree of resistance about 24 weeks after infection commenced and may have lost adult flukes as a consequence.

Resistance to liver fluke infection in the natural sheep host is correlated with a type‐1 cytokine response

“…The requirement for a type‐1 immune response to resist F. gigantica infection has previously been alluded to in cattle as IgG2 antibody levels were associated with lower liver fluke recoveries (37). Similarly, experimental vaccination studies have shown a strong association between parasite‐specific IgG2 antibody titres and protection against F. hepatica infection in cattle (38,39) However, the results of the present study provide the first evidence that the induction of an early type‐1 cytokine and humoral response is directly correlated with the ability of a biological host to naturally resist Fasciola infection.…”

Haematological changes due to bovine fascioliasis

“…The haematological tests can help to indicate the effect of disease on the blood components. Bovine fascioliasis can result in significant blood losses with all associated consequences (Soun et al, 2006), although adverse effects depend on the parasite load (Coop and Kryziakis, 2001;Wiedosari et al, 2006).…”

“…F. hepatica or F. gigantica migrates through the liver parenchyma and tissue and when mature feeds on the blood of the final host at a rate of 0.2 to 0.5 ml per day per fluke (Wiedosari et al, 2006), which leads to severe anaemia. As such, determination of the concentration of blood parameters (erythrocyte counts, white blood cell counts, pack cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and the differential counts) for cattle will provide information that serves as the basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the diseases that could affect them (Yokus and Cakir, 2006).…”

Towards the comprehension of fasciolosis (re-)emergence: an integrative overview

“…The rapid and significant modulation of host immunity exerted by the parasites is possibly linked to the lack of concomitant immunity following Fasciola primo infection. In this sense, as pre-exposure to fasciolids does not confer complete protection in trickle/challenge infection of intermediate (Alba et al ., 2018) or definitive hosts (Bossaert et al ., 2000; Wiedosari et al ., 2006), it is certainly an add-on factor for transmission.…”