Abstract

Rumen flukes (Calicophoron daubneyi) represent a growing threat to the animal health, productivity and welfare of ruminants. The present study aimed to assess the spatial distribution of C. daubneyi infections in ruminants and to develop a predictive model of the environmental suitability for rumen flukes in a Mediterranean area. A cross-sectional coprological survey was conducted in 682 sheep, 73 goat and 307 cattle farms located in the Basilicata region (southern Italy). Faecal samples collected were analysed using the FLOTAC technique. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and statistical models were developed to determine environmental risk factors and to delimitate the areas at highest risk of infections in small ruminants. The results showed 7.9% (95% CI 6.05–10.27) of sheep farms, 2.7% (95% CI 0.48–10.44) of goat farms and 55.0% (95% CI 49.62–60.99) of cattle farms were infected by C. daubneyi. The areas with high predicted risk were situated in the western part of the region. The soil texture, land use and the presence of streams and brooks were the variables statistically significant (p < 0.05) in explaining the C. daubneyi distribution in the study area. The study confirms the importance of geospatial technology in supporting parasite control strategies in livestock and demonstrates that a combined use of different geostatistical techniques can improve the prediction of the C. daubneyi infection risk in ruminants.

Highlights

  • Calicophoron daubneyi, the causative agent of paramphistomosis, is a ubiquitous Trematoda that resides in the digestive tract of ruminants

  • The analysis of the spatial distribution of C. daubneyi conducted in the Basilicata region showed that the prevalence of rumen fluke infection was lower in sheep and goats (7.9% and 2.7%, respectively) than in cattle farms (55.0%), in accordance with previous findings by Jones et al [14] and Naranjo-Lucena et al [15]

  • Other authors suggest that different factors such as production system, breed, animal density and age group might affect the prevalence and intensity of C. daubneyi infection in cattle, the statistical analysis frequently did not show these variables as significantly associated with rumen fluke infection [9,17]

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Summary

Introduction

Calicophoron daubneyi (rumen fluke or paramphistomes), the causative agent of paramphistomosis, is a ubiquitous Trematoda that resides in the digestive tract of ruminants. Heavy parasite burdens commonly compromise livestock production through reduced feed conversion efficiency, weight loss and decreased milk yield, incurring economic losses with elevated morbidity and mortality [2,5]. Increased prevalence of this infection has been reported in various European countries [3,7,8,9,10]. The life cycle of C. daubneyi needs an intermediate snail host (e.g. Galba truncatula) to be completed [12] which is the predominant intermediate host of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) For this reason, the transmission of C. daubneyi is associated with the presence of freshwater gastropods, in which the parasites multiply.

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