Wild fallow deer (<scp><i>Dama dama</i></scp>) as definitive hosts of <scp><i>Fasciola hepatica</i></scp> (liver fluke) in alpine New South Wales

Dj, Jenkins; Baker, A. D.; Porter, Megan L.; Shamsi, Shokoofeh; Barton, Diane P.

doi:10.1111/avj.13001

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…For example, there is more knowledge about Lymnaea spp. due to their role as an intermediate host of liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica , a zoonotic trematode infecting herbivores including cattle and sheep [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], but little is known about those snails that might be intermediate hosts for parasites of wildlife or freshwater animals in Australia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites of Selected Freshwater Snails in the Eastern Murray Darling Basin, Australia

Barton

Zhu

Nuhoglu

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Aquatic snails serve an important role in the ecosystem. They also play an essential role in the life cycle of many parasites as hosts and may pose risks to animal and human health. In Australia, the role of snails in the transmission of parasites of livestock is well studied. However, despite the country’s unique biodiversity and wildlife, little is known about the role of snails in the transmission and survival of parasites in other ecosystems, including aquatic and aquaculture systems. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of parasites in freshwater snails in the eastern Murray Darling Basin. A total of 275 snails were collected from various localities, including aquaculture fishery ponds and natural creeks during the summer and autumn months in the southern hemisphere. Three different species of freshwater snails, all common to the area, were found, including Bullastra lessoni (n = 11), Isidorella hainesii (n = 157), and Haitia acuta (n = 107), of which 9.1%, 1.3%, and 4.7%, respectively, were found to be harboring various developmental stages of Trematoda. No other parasite was found in the examined snails. Parasites were identified as Choanocotyle hobbsi, Plagiorchis sp. and Petasiger sp. based on the sequences of their ITS2, 18S, and 28S ribosomal DNA region. Herein, we report a native parasite Choanocotyle hobbsi in an introduced snail, Haitia acuta, from both natural and aquaculture ponds. As there are no genetic sequences for adult specimens of Petasiger spp. and Plagiorchis spp. collected in Australia for comparison, whether the specimens collected in this study are the larval stage of one of the previously described species or are a new, undescribed species cannot yet be determined. Our results also suggest snails collected from aquaculture ponds may be infected with considerably more parasites.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites of Selected Freshwater Snails in the Eastern Murray Darling Basin, Australia

Barton

Zhu

Nuhoglu

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…Evidence of dead decaying flukes within these capsules confirms their inherent ability to resolve infections. Similar capsule formations, described as “pockets” or “cyst-like lesions”, have been identified in red ( Cervus elaphus ) ( French et al, 2016 ) and fallow ( Dama dama ) deer ( Jenkins et al, 2020 ; Lamb et al, 2021 ) but also elk ( Cervus canadensis ) infected with Fascioloides magna ( Pybus et al, 2015 ). Having the ability to isolate and restrict fluke migration minimises damage in the liver and would reduce clinical signs of infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Prevalence and gross pathology of liver fluke in macropods cohabiting livestock farms in north eastern NSW, Australia, and diagnosis using cELISA

Lamb

Doyle

Barwick

et al. 2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Liver fluke ( Fasciola hepatica ) is a parasite of herbivores including wildlife. Macropods , such as Eastern grey kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus ) and Common wallaroo ( Osphranter robustus ), are frequently observed sharing grazing sites with domestic livestock. The impact of Macropods, as reservoirs of infection, on livestock production and risks to cross-species transmission are largely unknown. In Phase 1 of this study, liver and faecal samples were collected from 245 Macropods (181 Eastern grey kangaroos, 64 Common wallaroos) cohabiting livestock farms (n = 7) in the Northern Tablelands regions of New South Wales. Total fluke (TFC) and fluke eggs (FEC) were counted in the liver and faeces, respectively, to assess prevalence. Faecal antigens were also measured using the commercial Bio-X Diagnostic Monoscreen AgELISA Fasciola hepatica kit (cELISA) to assess suitability as a diagnostic tool. In Phase 2, Macropod faecal samples were collected from 60 livestock farms to conduct FEC and assess prevalence by region. Liver fluke was prevalent in 22% of Eastern grey kangaroo and 20% of Common wallaroos with prevalence as high as 45% in the Eastern grey kangaroo. Fluke burdens ranged from 1 to 122 flukes (mean = 9 flukes) with a FEC range of 0–195 eggs per gram (epg) of faeces (mean = 18 epg). Evidence of dead and live flukes trapped within fibrotic capsules confirms the ability of Macropods to resolve infections. cELISA proved highly specific (100%) and sensitive (98%) in liver fluke detection however fibrotic capsules observed in the liver may reduce the correlation of coproantigens with fluke burden. Phase 2 revealed that 27% of livestock farms had Macropods infected with liver fluke. Overall, this study confirmed Eastern grey kangaroo and Common wallaroo are susceptible hosts and potential reservoirs for liver fluke and, monitoring infections in Macropods would assist in livestock disease management.

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“…Both studies focused on identifying the risk that deer pose to maintaining the infection of F. hepatica in livestock and established that approximately 50% of the samples were positive for this important parasite. These results led Jenkins et al (2020) to conclude that deer are likely to represent a major source of environmental contamination. The presence of America wild deer were considered an important source of these parasites reduces livestock growth rates, which delays infection for livestock, and several publications focused on animals reaching slaughter weight (Roeber et al 2013;Mazeri their local consequences andimplications (Böhm et al et al 2017).…”

Section: Parasitic Diseases In Deermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results led Jenkins et al . (2020) to conclude that deer are likely to represent a major source of environmental contamination. The presence of these parasites reduces livestock growth rates, which delays animals reaching slaughter weight (Roeber et al .…”

Section: Parasitic Diseases In Deermentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of viral and parasitic infections in wild deer in Australia with relevance to livestock and human health

et al. 2023

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Wild animals harbour a diverse range of pathogens. In Europe and North America, cervids (Family Cervidae) can act as reservoirs for viral, prion, bacterial, and parasitic infections. Wild deer often inhabit agricultural land, therefore representing a biosecurity risk due to their potential ability to transmit diseases to livestock. Multiple studies have investigated the infection status of wild deer in Australia, mostly during the 1970s and 1980s, and deer populations have increased greatly in abundance and distribution since then. Those studies provide an important baseline for the pathogens carried by wild deer in Australia but are limited by small sample size, the small number of deer species studied, and the disease detection methods used. Recent investigations using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), PCR-based assays, and next-generation sequencing have substantially increased our understanding of viral and parasitic infections in Australian deer. These studies indicate that deer may act as reservoirs for pathogens such as Pestivirus, Neospora caninum and Entamoeba bovis. The use of next-generation sequencing has led to the discovery of novel viruses such as Picobirnavirus and a novel species of the genus Bopivirus, both of which pose transmission risks for domestic animals. Recent research confirms that wild deer could be a future source of viral and parasitic infections for domestic livestock and other wildlife species.

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Wild fallow deer (Dama dama) as definitive hosts of Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) in alpine New South Wales

Cited by 10 publications

References 10 publications

Parasites of Selected Freshwater Snails in the Eastern Murray Darling Basin, Australia

Parasites of Selected Freshwater Snails in the Eastern Murray Darling Basin, Australia

Prevalence and gross pathology of liver fluke in macropods cohabiting livestock farms in north eastern NSW, Australia, and diagnosis using cELISA

A review of viral and parasitic infections in wild deer in Australia with relevance to livestock and human health

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