Eurytrema coelomaticum infection: correlation between parasite burden and impairment of pancreatic exocrine enzyme secretion

Abstract

Eurytrema coelomaticum is a trematode reported in the pancreatic ducts of ruminants. It is conjectured that may cause disorders in the pancreas, as well as digestive and metabolic processes dependent on them. This study, determined if there is an impairment of exocrine pancreatic function, and correlated it with parasite burden. Pancreas, blood, and fecal samples were collected from 119 bovines at a abattoir. Stool samples were subjected to the gelatin and x-ray film digestion tests (to detect the presence of trypsin in feces). Using blood samples, the following biochemical tests were performed: amylase, lipase, glucose, fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, and globulins. Analyses were correlated with pancreatic parasite burden. Cattle with a high parasitic load presented higher incidence of negative tests in both gelatin digestion and x-ray film digestion tests (P < 0.001) when compared to non-parasitized animals and those with a low parasitic load. Changes in those tests only occurred if the parasitemia was moderate or severe. The activity of the amylase and lipase enzymes was significantly higher in animals with low parasitemia (P < 0.05), compared to non-parasitized animals and with a high parasitic burden. In this study, in cases of high parasitemia, negative results were observed in both gelatin and x-ray film in the feces digestion tests. However, the low infection of E. coelomaticum, higher levels of serum amylase and lipase that also indicated loss of pancreatic exocrine functions were reported.

Eurytrematosis in cattle in southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil case report

“…In the definitive host infection, the metacercariae released from the cysts in the duodenum migrate to the pancreas through the accessory ducts and are distributed in the pancreatic ducts (Ilha et al, 2005). We found parasites both in the pancreatic ducts and duodenum, possibly related to the type of migration of Eurytrema and the degree of parasitism, since most studies have only reported the occurrence of the parasites in pancreatic ducts and occasionally biliary ducts (Surian et al, 2022). However, Bassani et al (2006) and Schwertz et al (2015) reported the occurrence in the duodenum was rare.…”

Efficacy of a Fungal Formulation with the Nematophagous Fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia in the Biological Control of Bovine Nematodiosis

“…In this scenario, some genera of greater importance and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes in cattle raised in tropical countries stand out, such as Cooperia, Haemonchus, and Oesophagostomum. The species Dictyocaulus viviparus is important in the parasitism of the lungs of these animals [1] along with the trematodes, whose species of importance in cattle are: Fasciola hepatica and Eurytrema coelomaticum, which are liver and pancreatic duct parasites of cattle, respectively [2,3].…”