Differences in Susceptibility between Cattle and Swamp Buffaloes to Infection with Fasciola gigantica

Abstract

Cattle and buffaloes in the wet tropics are commonly infected with Fasciola gigantica (Spithill et al., 1999). There are few reports on differences in susceptibility to infection between cattle and buffaloes. E. Wiedosari (personal communication, 1997) demonstrated that buffaloes were least affected by infection with F. gigantica compared to Bali and Ongole calves. Differences in resistance and/or resilience to F. gigantica between cattle and buffaloes may exist as there are reports of breed differences in susceptibility to F. gigantica between Friesian and Boran cattle (Wamae et al., 1998), between Indonesian thin-tailed sheep, Merinos and St Croix sheep (Widjajanti et al., 1999), and between Red Masai and Dorper sheep (Waweru et al., 1999). This paper compares the susceptibility of cattle (Bos indicus) and swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) to infection with F. gigantica based on parasitological and clinicopathological parameters.