Highland cattle and Radix labiata, the hosts of Fascioloides magna

Abstract

BackgroundFascioloides magna is a pathogenic fluke introduced to Europe ca 140 years ago. As it is spreading over the continent, new intermediate and definitive hosts might be involved in transmission of the parasite. In Europe, several studies reported potential new intermediate snail hosts (Radix spp.) for F. magna, and also several cases of fascioloidosis of wild and domestic animals were published. However, the data based on molecular and histological analyses confirming these findings remained unreported. This study aims to refer to unique findings of F. magna in European snails and domestic animals (the first observation in the Czech Republic in the last 30 years) and demonstrate the use of molecular techniques in determination of F. magna.ResultsTwo snails of R. labiata naturally infected with F. magna were found; mature cercariae and daughter rediae were observed. Maturity of cercariae was checked by histological methods, however, their ability to encyst was not confirmed. Co-infection of F. magna and Fasciola hepatica in the liver of two highland cattle bulls was proved. Adult fasciolid flukes producing eggs were found in the liver pseudocysts (F. magna) and the bile ducts (F. hepatica). Identification of intermediate hosts, intramolluscan stages, adult flukes and eggs was performed by sequencing the ITS2 region. Connection of F. magna pseudocysts with the gut (via the bile ducts) was not confirmed by means of histological and coprological examinations.ConclusionsFor the first time, Radix labiata was confirmed as the snail host for F. magna under natural conditions and, together with the finding of F. magna infection in cattle, we can expect further transmission of F. magna from wildlife to livestock in localities shared by these hosts.

The occurrence of Fascioloides magna (Bassi, 1875) in the wild cervid population in the Lower Silesian Wilderness – epidemiological and pathological aspects

“…The samples were observed under a stereoscopic microscope (PZO) at 40× magnification. The eggs were identified to the species or genus level on the basis of morphometrical features ( 6 , 18 ). The degree of parasitic infection was characterised by prevalence, defined as the percentage of deer faecal samples in which at least one F. magna egg was detected, and by intensity, defined as the number of F. magna eggs in 1 g of faeces (EPG).…”

Helminth Prevalence in European Deer with a Focus on Abomasal Nematodes and the Influence of Livestock Pasture Contact: A Meta-Analysis

“…Dicrocoelium dendriticum, a liver fluke typical of grazing ruminants [67], was also present in 4 of 18 studies, including in 1 fallow, 2 red and 1 roe deer studies, with a maximum prevalence of 25% in red deer (Figure 3). Fascioloides magna, a large liver fluke of ruminants originating from North America [68,69], was present in one red deer study from Poland with a prevalence of around 1%. Further, prevalence data for Dicrocoelium chinensis, a small liver fluke originally isolated from musk deer [70], was available from one sika deer study in Austria with a prevalence of 28%.…”

Identification and Molecular Characterization of Giant Liver Fluke (Fascioloides magna) Infection in European Fallow Deer (Dama dama) in Romania—First Report

“…Although the aberrant hosts—mouflon ( Ovis ammon musimon ) [ 19 ], sheep ( Ovis aries ) [ 20 ], goats ( Capra aegagrus hircus ), rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ), guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus ), and recently, roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) [ 18 ]—are not involved in trematode reproduction, their infection has fatal consequences [ 14 , 21 ]. Large ungulates—moose ( Alces alces ), American bison ( Bison bison ), sika deer ( Cervus nippon ), llama ( Lama glama ), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) [ 22 ], horse ( Equus ferus caballus ), pig ( Sus domesticus ), and cattle ( Bos taurus )—are considered as dead-end hosts [ 16 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The first report of an infection with F. magna in primates ( Cercopithecus petaurista ) was made in North America by Hasse K.E.…”