Infestation expérimentale de caprins parSchistosoma bovisetS. curassoni: effets pathogènes comparés

Abstract

Summary : EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF GOATS WITH SCHISTOSOMA BOVIS AND S. CURASSONI: COMPARED MEDICAL IMPACTSSpecific mortality and morbidity have been quantified in goats experimentally infected with Schistosoma bovis or S. curassoni strains from Niger. The study involved nine animals followed during 380 days after infection with, respectively, 1,800 or 2,400 cercariae. S. bovis was significatively more pathogenic than S. curassoni in terms of mortality, weight loss and packed cell volume decrease. In addition, the intensity of clinical symptoms was significatively and positively correlated to the levels of fecal egg excretion. Compared to non-infected controls, a growth differential of, respectively, 1,600 and 880 grams per month should incite to consider S. bovis and S. curassoni as parasites of serious economical impact in sahelian countries. Résumé