Rumen fluke in Irish sheep: prevalence, risk factors and molecular identification of two paramphistome species

peer-reviewedBackground Rumen flukes are trematode parasites found globally; in tropical and sub-tropical climates, infection can result in paramphistomosis, which can have a deleterious impact on livestock. In Europe, rumen fluke is not regarded as a clinically significant parasite, recently however, the prevalence of rumen fluke has sharply increased and several outbreaks of clinical paramphistomosis have been reported. Gaining a better understanding of rumen fluke transmission and identification of risk factors is crucial to improve the control of this parasitic disease. In this regard, a national prevalence study of rumen fluke infection and an investigation of associated risk factors were conducted in Irish sheep flocks between November 2014 and January 2015. In addition, a molecular identification of the rumen fluke species present in Ireland was carried out using an isolation method of individual eggs from faecal material coupled with a PCR. After the DNA extraction of 54 individual eggs, the nuclear fragment ITS-2 was amplified and sequenced using the same primers. Results An apparent herd prevalence of 77.3 % was determined. Several risk factors were identified including type of pasture grazed, regional variation, and sharing of the paddocks with other livestock species. A novel relationship between the Suffolk breed and higher FEC was reported for the first time. The predominant rumen fluke species found was C. daubneyi. Nevertheless, P. leydeni was unexpectedly identified infecting sheep in Ireland for the first time. Conclusions An exceptionally high prevalence of rumen fluke among Irish sheep flocks has been highlighted in this study and a more thorough investigation is necessary to analyse its economic impact. The isolation of individual eggs coupled with the PCR technique used here has proven a reliable tool for discrimination of Paramphistomum spp. This technique may facilitate forthcoming studies of the effects of paramphistomosis on livestock production. The most noteworthy finding was the identification of P. leydeni affecting sheep in Ireland, however further studies are required to clarify its implications. Also, a significant relationship between Suffolk breed and a heavier infection was found, which can be used as a starting point for future research on control strategies of rumen fluke infection.This study was funded by Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine research stimulus funding; project reference 13/ S/405

Prevalence and sequence-based identity of rumen fluke in cattle and deer in New Caledonia

An abattoir survey was performed in the French Melanesian archipelago of New Caledonia to determine the prevalence of paramphistomes in cattle and deer and to generate material for molecular typing at species and subspecies level. Prevalence in adult cattle was high at animal level (70% of 387 adult cattle) and batch level (81%). Prevalence was lower in calves at both levels (33% of 484 calves, 51% at batch level). Animals from 2 of 7 deer farms were positive for rumen fluke, with animal-level prevalence of 41.4% (29/70) and 47.1% (33/70), respectively. Using ITS-2 sequencing, 3 species of paramphistomes were identified, i.e. Calicophoron calicophorum, Fischoederius elongatus and Orthocoelium streptocoelium. All three species were detected in cattle as well as deer, suggesting the possibility of rumen fluke transmission between the two host species. Based on heterogeneity in ITS-2 sequences, the C. calicophorum population comprises two clades, both of which occur in cattle as well as deer. The results suggest two distinct routes of rumen fluke introduction into this area. This approach has wider applicability for investigations of the origin of rumen fluke infections and for the possibility of parasite transmission at the livestock-wildlife interface

Presence and species identity of rumen flukes in cattle and sheep in the Netherlands

The purpose of the study was to gain knowledge about the prevalence and identity of rumen flukes (RF) in cattle and sheep in the Netherlands. Routine faecal examinations of diagnostic submissions between May 2009 and September 2014 showed a mean annual herd or flock RF prevalence of 15.8% for cattle and 8.0% for sheep. Prevalence in cattle was higher after 2012 than before, which may reflect a change in detection method as well as an increase in true prevalence. During November and December 2014, an abattoir survey was conducted to allow for scoring of rumen fluke burden and to obtain specimens for molecular species characterization. Over 8 visits to 5 abattoirs in areas deemed to pose a high risk for trematode infection, 116 cows and 41 sheep from 27 herds and 10 flocks were examined. Prevalence of RF was higher in beef cattle than in dairy cattle and higher in cattle than in sheep. Median fluke burden was >100 specimens per animal for most positive animals. Using a semi-quantitative RF density score as a gold standard, sensitivity and specificity of a modified quantitative Dorsman egg counting method were estimated at 82.6% and 83.3%, respectively. Of 14 collected adult rumen flukes, twelve (8 bovine and 4 ovine specimens) were identified as Calicophoron daubneyi. The other two, of bovine origin, were identified as Paramphistomum leydeni, which was unexpected as in other European countries all recently collected rumen flukes in both cattle and sheep were identified as C. daubneyi. The findings implicate that multiple rumen fluke species, intermediate host species and transmission cycles may play a role in rumen fluke infections in the Netherlands

Negleted diseases : contributions from continental malacology

Fil: Rumi, Alejandra. División Zoología Invertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vogler, Roberto Eugenio. Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Posadas; Argentin

Extension des trématodoses du bétail après la construction des barrages dans le bassin du fleuve Sénégal

Après la mise en service du barrage de Diama (1985-86) et la multiplication des aménagements hydro-agricoles, il a été constaté au niveau du bassin du fleuve Sénégal un développement des trématodoses animales, particulièrement la fasciolose à #Fasciola gigantica#, les schistosomoses à #Schistosoma bovis# et à #S. curassoni# et la paramphistomose à #Paramphistomum# sp. Cette situation épidémiologique des trématodoses chez le bétail s'est manifestée par une augmentation des prévalences au niveau d'anciens foyers (Richard-Toll, Ross-Béthio, Mbane et Keur Momar Sarr). Les taux d'infestation chez les bovins sont passés de 11 à 27 p. 100, de 20 à 30 p. 100 et de 15 à 27 p. 100 respectivement pour la fasciolose, la paramphistomose et la schistosomose. Chez les petits ruminants qui semblaient être épargnés, des prévalences de 2 à 62 p. 100 pour la fasciolose ont été enregistrées, alors que la paramphistomose, plus fréquente, avait un taux de 25 à 30 p. 100. Parallèlement, à partir de 1989-1990 de nouveaux foyers de trématodoses sont apparus : d'une part, au niveau du delta à Tilène, Pont Gendarme et Takhembeut avec des prévalences de 3 à 20 p. 100, 4 à 20 p. 100 et 5 à 36 p. 100 respectivement pour fa fasciolose, la schistosomose et la paramphistomose ; d'autre part, au niveau du lac de Guiers à Temeye, Thiago et Senda avec des prévalences de 5 à 86 p. 100, 5 à 11 p. 100 et 5 à 33 p. 100 respectivement pour la fasciolose, la schistosomose et la paramphistomos

Trends and Economic Consequences of Paramphistomosis: A Statistical Analysis from a Two-Year Abattoir Study

Paramphistomosis is an emerging pathogenic disease of ruminants, inflicting severe economic losses on the livestock sector through reduced milk and meat production, weight loss, treatment costs, and high mortality, particularly in young animals. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence and economic impact of paramphistomosis in cattle and buffaloes slaughtered in the Lahore district. A comprehensive two-year abattoir survey (January 2023 – December 2024) was conducted, recording monthly condemnation data. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant disparity (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001) in infection rates between species, with buffaloes exhibiting a markedly higher overall prevalence (22.99%) compared to cattle (8.41%). A powerful seasonal pattern was identified (Kruskal-Wallis H Test, p < 0.001), with infection rates peaking dramatically during the monsoon season (July-October), exceeding 41% in buffaloes. This fluctuation was strongly correlated with environmental conditions. Crucially, no significant temporal trend was found (p > 0.8), indicating stable, endemic disease levels. Direct economic losses from organ condemnation alone amounted to several thousand crore Pakistani rupees annually. When combined with indirect losses from an estimated 20-30% reduction in milk yield, weight loss, mortality, and treatment costs, the total economic burden is profound. The findings underscore the endemic nature of paramphistomosis and highlight the ineffectiveness of current control measures. The study concludes with urgent recommendations for implementing strategic deworming programs aligned with seasonal epidemiology, promoting integrated parasite management, and enhancing farmer education and veterinary infrastructure to mitigate these substantial losses and secure Pakistan\u27s agricultural economy. References Alvi, M. A., Alshammari, A., Asghar, F., Ali, R. M. A., Li, L., Saqib, M., ... & Jia, W. Z. (2022). Prevalence, risk factors and first record of mitochondrial cox 1 gene-based molecular characterization of Paramphistomum epiclitum from Pakistan. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 1018854. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1018854 Asif, M., Khan, A., & Pasha, M. A. (2019). Psychological capital of employees’ engagement: moderating impact of conflict management in the financial sector of Pakistan. Global Social Sciences Review, IV, 160-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-III).15 Atcheson, E., Skuce, P. J., Oliver, N. A., McNeilly, T. N., & Robinson, M. W. (2020). Calicophoron daubneyi—The path toward understanding its pathogenicity and host interactions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 606. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00606 Clancy, S. M., Whitehead, M., Oliver, N. A., Huson, K. M., Kyle, J., Demartini, D., ... & Robinson, M. W. (2025). 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Prevalence of paramphistomosis in relation to meteorological factors. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 44(3), 823-828. Mage, C., Bourgne, H., Toullieu, J. M., Rondelaud, D., & Dreyfuss, G. (2002). Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum daubneyi: Changes in prevalences of natural infections in cattle and in Lymnaea truncatula from central France over the past 12 years. Veterinary Research, 33(5), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2002031 Mas-Coma, S., Bargues, M. D., & Valero, M. A. (2005). Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses. International Journal for Parasitology, 35(11-12), 1255–1278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.010 McNeilly, T. N., Britton, C., Laing, R., Gilleard, J. S., & Sargison, N. D. (2025). The Calicophoron daubneyi genome provides new insight into mechanisms of feeding, eggshell synthesis and parasite-microbe interactions. BMC Biology, 23(1), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02114-0 Merck Animal Health. 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A holistic review of buffalo productivity, reproductive efficiency, genetic improvement, and health management in Bangladesh. Veterinary and Animal Science, 29, Article 100496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2025.100496 Rizwan, H. M., Zohaib, H. M., Sajid, M. S., Abbas, H., Younus, M., Farid, M. U., ... & Bajwa, M. H. (2023). Inflicting significant losses in slaughtered animals: exposing the hidden effects of parasitic infections. Pathogens, 12(11), 1291. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111291 Rolfe, P. F., Boray, J. C., & Nichols, P. (1991). Epidemiology of paramphistomosis in cattle. International Journal for Parasitology, 21(7), 813–819. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7519(91)90150-5 Roy, B., & Tandon, V. (1992). Seasonal prevalence of some zoonotic trematode infections in cattle and pigs in the north-east montane zone in India. Veterinary Parasitology, 41(1-2), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(92)90009-D Selemetas, N., & de Waal, T. (2018). 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Review and update of paramphistomosis

Despite records of ruminal paramphistomes in Argentina dating back to the beginning of the XX century, in the last decade cases have increased in number with evidence of spreading to new geographical areas. This fact led us to carry out some studies in the last few years in order to enhance the poor availability of reports in South America, some of which are actually performed in our group. This paper reviews the characteristics of the life cycles and some aspects of the disease both at world and local level, and updates the latest paramphistome reports in domestic ruminants of Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasCentro de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Veterinaria

Calicophoron daubneyi in sheep and cattle of Sardinia, Italy

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of paramphistomosis and confirm the species identity of rumen flukes from sheep and cattle of Sardinia (Italy), by molecular methods. From 2011 to 2014, 381 sheep and 59 cattle farms were selected and individual faecal samples were run on 15 sheep and 5 cattle for each farm, respectively. The prevalence at the slaughterhouse was calculated by examination of 356 sheep and 505 cattle. 13adult flukes collected from sheep and cattle and 5 belonging to the historical collection of Laboratory of Parasitology at the Department of Veterinary Medicine of Sassari, previously classified as Paramphistomum spp., were used for PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS2+ rDNA. Previously classified Paramphistomum leydeni from South America were used as controls. The EPG prevalence was 13.9 % and 55.9 % for sheep and cattle farms respectively. At slaughterhouses, paramphistomes were found in 2 % of the sheep and 10.9 % of the examined cows. Conversely to the latest reports, the sequences comparison showed that all the Sardinian rumen flukes belong to Calicophoron daubneyi.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria