Rumen (Calicophoron/Paramphistomum spp.) and Liver Flukes (Fasciola hepatica) in Cattle—Prevalence, Distribution, and Impact of Management Factors in Germany

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of rumen flukes on German cattle farms via the sedimentation technique, and to identify the rumen fluke species occurring in Germany. Additionally, the prevalence of patent Fasciola hepatica infections was determined. Furthermore, a short questionnaire was answered by the farmers. A prevalence of 5.5% and 9.5% was detected for rumen flukes and liver flukes, respectively. Coinfections occurred on 2.1% of farms. In northern Germany, the rumen fluke prevalence was higher than in southern Germany, while for liver fluke the distribution was reversed. Rumen flukes were mostly identified as Calicophoron daubneyi, but in four cases, sequencing revealed Paramphistomum leydeni for the first time in Germany. Grazing and feeding of fresh grass, as well as organic farming, were significantly associated with rumen and liver fluke occurrence. In contrast, suckler cow husbandry only had an influence on the occurrence of rumen flukes, but not liver flukes. Trematode eggs could be detected in both, farms with and without deworming. Since there were only a few studies about Paramphistomidosis in Germany, more attention should be paid to these parasitic diseases for animal welfare and animal health reasons.

DNA barcoding of rumen flukes (Paramphistomidae) from bovines in Germany and Austria

“…The findings of this investigation support that C. daubneyi is currently apparently the most widespread species of rumen flukes of domestic ruminants in Europe (Wenzel et al 2019;Forbes 2021). While a just published paper reported the first molecular identification of P. leydeni f luke eggs in bovine feces in Germany (Forstmaier et al 2021), the present investigation features the first molecular proof for the occurrence of P. leydeni in Germany based on the examination of adult flukes isolated from cattle. In the past, the histomorphological examination of fluke specimens of bovine origin from Germany led to a controversial interpretation with respect to the identification of P. leydeni, which was considered synonymous with P. cervi by some authors (Odening et al 1978;Eduardo 1982;Odening 1983).…”

“…This molecular investigation reveals the first record of C. daubneyi in Austria and it adds evidence for a common occurrence of this species in Germany where C. daubneyi was identified initially in the late 1970s in eastern Germany based on histomorphology of adult flukes (Odening et al 1978) and more recently several times using molecular identification of fluke eggs (May et al 2019;Wenzel et al 2019;Forstmaier et al 2021). The findings of this investigation support that C. daubneyi is currently apparently the most widespread species of rumen flukes of domestic ruminants in Europe (Wenzel et al 2019;Forbes 2021). While a just published paper reported the first molecular identification of P. leydeni f luke eggs in bovine feces in Germany (Forstmaier et al 2021), the present investigation features the first molecular proof for the occurrence of P. leydeni in Germany based on the examination of adult flukes isolated from cattle.…”

“…Although known for several centuries to parasitize the reticulo-rumen of ruminants, the digenetic trematodes of the family Paramphistomidae have not received much attention for their parasitism in the northern hemisphere until the recent past. Despite having been reported frequently in Europe, rumen fluke infections were considered apparently as quite uncommon and regarded as of little or no clinical significance (Forbes 2021). The increasing number of reports from continental Europe, the British Isles, and Ireland over the last two decades indicates a growing prevalence of paramphistome infections in domestic ruminants.…”

“…The increasing number of reports from continental Europe, the British Isles, and Ireland over the last two decades indicates a growing prevalence of paramphistome infections in domestic ruminants. In this context, outbreaks of disease (acute intestinal paramphistomosis) in both cattle and sheep have been reported from France, the UK, and Ireland (Huson et al 2017;Wenzel et al 2019;Forbes 2021).…”

“…While the diagnosis of rumen fluke infection is based on gross inspection of the forestomachs for adult flukes, the detection of rumen fluke eggs in feces, or on the recovery of immature flukes in feces or at necropsy, the identification of flukes to species level is challenging (Forbes 2021). The morphological differences, which require fine-structural examination (light and electron microscopy), are quite subtle and prone to be affected by the conditions when flukes were collected.…”