Transmission of Calicophoron daubneyi and Fasciola hepatica in Galicia (Spain): Temporal follow-up in the intermediate and definitive hosts

Abstract

BackgroundParamphistomosis caused by Calicophoron daubneyi and fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica are common parasitic diseases of livestock animals. Transmission of the diseases depends on the presence of intermediate hosts, i.e. freshwater gastropods such as lymnaeids. We carried out a 2-year-long study of the dynamics of the snail population acting as the intermediate host for these parasites, considering the population structure in terms of size/age and infection status. In addition, we determined the kinetics of trematode egg excretion in grazing cows. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were used to analyze the associations between different response variables and snail size, sampling month and weather-related variables.ResultsOf the molluscan species examined, Galba truncatula, Radix peregra, Anisus (Anisus) leucostoma and Pisidium casertanum (n = 2802), only G. truncatula was infected with C. daubneyi or F. hepatica, at prevalence rates of 8.2% and 4.4% respectively. The probability of infection with C. daubneyi or F. hepatica was linearly related to snail size, although in different ways (negative for C. daubneyi and positive for F. hepatica). The total snail population increased in winter, when specimens of all size classes were found. Infected snails were more abundant during spring-autumn. Mature cercariae of both parasites were found in most seasons. In the statistical models, the sampling month accounted for a high percentage (71.9–78.2%) of the observed variability in snail abundance. The inclusion of climatic variables in the models moderately increased the percentage of deviance explained (77.7–91.9%). Excretion of C. daubneyi eggs in cow faeces was always higher than that of F. hepatica eggs.ConclusionsParticular care should be taken to prevent pastures and the surrounding environment being contaminated with parasite eggs during winter-spring, when the number of snails susceptible to miracidial infections is maximal. This is therefore the optimal time for treating grazing animals. Nevertheless, control of trematodosis based only on chemotherapy is difficult in an area such as the study area, where environmental factors favour the regular appearance of snail populations harbouring mature cercariae.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1892-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Coprological study of trematode infections and associated host risk factors in cattle during the dry season in and around Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia

“…There are several genera of paramphistomes: Paramphistomum, Cotylophoron, Calicophoron, Bothriophoron, Orthocoelium and Gigantocotyle , of which Paramphistomum is the most common and widespread in ruminants ( Taylor, Coop, & Wall, 2016 ). Paramphistomes (amphistomes) are traditionally regarded as having no clinical significance ( Iglesias-Piñeiro et al., 2016 ). However, heavy infection with immature flukes, which attach to the lining of the upper part of small intestine, may cause severe disease which may even result in death ( Lloyd et al., 2007 , Rolfe et al., 1991 ).…”

Epidemiological investigation of a severe rumen fluke outbreak on an Irish dairy farm

“…This was indicated by the fact that all of the 112 metacercariae that were analysed were identified as C. daubneyi , and almost 56% of the mud snails tested positive for C. daubneyi while only one snail was infected with F. hepatica . Not only does this represent an exceptionally high snail infection rate for C. daubneyi (compared with between 4 and 11% reported from France, the UK and Spain) (Mage et al 2002; Jones et al 2015; Iglesias-Piñeiro et al 2016), but also poses the question whether we are currently witnessing a gradual replacement of F. hepatica by C. daubneyi . A similar development has been reported from France and the UK (Rondelaud et al .…”

“…2015; Iglesias-Piñeiro et al . 2016), it is thought that double parasitism may be detrimental to their survival. Eventually, cercariae emerge from the snails and encyst on vegetation to be ingested by the next host during grazing.…”

Determination of zones at risk for fasciolosis in the department of Haute-Vienne, central France: a retrospective study on natural infections detected in 108,481 Galba truncatula for 37 years

“…In Great Britain, the mean prevalence was less than 2% in more than 52,000 G. truncatula dissected by Ollerenshaw [ 43 ] between 1960 and 1969. In Spain, the prevalence was 11.4% in the 5486 snails dissected by Manga-González et al [ 36 ], but was only 4.4% in the 1141 snails dissected by Iglesias-Piñeiro et al [ 24 ]. A molecular biology study revealed a prevalence of 7.0% in 4733 G. truncatula collected from 70 Swiss farms [ 59 ].…”