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.
Highlights
Fascioloides magna is a pathogenic fluke introduced to Europe ca 140 years ago
Due to the international wild animal trade, F. magna was introduced to Europe in the later half of the 19th century, probably with the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) [1] and wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) [2]; the parasite adapted to the local hosts and started to spread
Some other lymnaeid snails distributed in the Czech Republic were tested under laboratory conditions as potential intermediate hosts of F. magna
Summary
Fascioloides 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 North America as the place of F. magna origin, at least five snail species of the family Lymnaeidae producing cercariae being able to form metacercariae were confirmed as the intermediate hosts [10,11,12,13]. Omphiscola glabra and Pseudosuccinea columella can serve as the intermediate hosts of F. magna [20] Concerning the latter two snails, there is no report confirming the occurrence of O. glabra in the Czech Republic, but P. columella was observed in several biotopes [21]. Since P. columella is a common snail in European greenhouses adapting to the central European climatic conditions [22], potential risk of F. magna transmission via this snail can not be excluded [20]
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