Journal of Applied Animal Research
  • Year: 2009
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: 2

Use of Liver Enzyme Activities for the Diagnosis of Fasciolosis in Cattle

  • Author:
  • Panagiotis D. Katsoulos1,, Georgios Christodoulopoulos1, Anastasios Minas2, Konstantinos Pourliotis3, Georgios Theodoropoulos4
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • Page Number: 275 to 277

1Clinic of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly P.O. Box 199, Karditsa, 43100, Greece.

2Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Health Professions, Technological Educational Institution of Larissa Larissa, Greece.

3Clinic of Farm Animals, Veterinary School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

4Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquacultures, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

* For correspondence: Tel.: +30-2441066056, Fax: +30-2441066053, E-mail: katsoulosp@yahoo.com

Abstract

A diagnostic protocol for fasciolosis in cattle developed by Clinic of Farm Animal Medicine in Veterinary School of Karditsa, based on the combination of coprological examination and determination of serum liver enzymes at a minimum of 20 animals of the herd, was evaluated in a high risk cattle herd. Presence of eggs in 60% of fecal samples and increased AST (100% samples) as well as γ-GT (80% samples) confirmed the presence of both immature and mature flukes. This helped in deciding that the treatment suitable for both kinds of flukes be given.

Keywords

Cattle, Fasciola hepatica, herd health management