Experimental infection of calves with Fasciola gigantica

Abstract

No abstract available

Oral infection of 8-month-old calves with 500, 1000, and 10,000 metacercaria of Fasciola gigantica caused recognizable clinical signs in all animals. The percentage of the inoculum that became established varied between 12.55 and 46.6%. All animals given a single dose of 10,000 metacercaria died; one of the four given 1000 metacercaria died and all other animals survived until the end of the experiment. The clinical signs consisted of a rough coat and pallor of the mucous membranes. A moderate to severe normocytic, normochromic anemia occurred, but this was not accompanied by reticulocytosis. The major pathological finding was hepatic fibrosis. Icterus was observed in three and ascites in all of five calves infected with 10,000 metacercaria.