Clinical course of Caliciophoron daubernyi infection in exprimentally infected sheep

Wenzel, Christoph; Voigt, Katja; Elbert, Verena; Knubben-Schweizer, Gabriela; Weber, Frank; Haug, Sandra; Zablotski, Yury (2026): Clinical course of Caliciophoron daubernyi infection in exprimentally infected sheep. Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift (139). pp. 1-5. ISSN 1439-0299

Abstract

This study investigated the clinical course of Calicophoron daubneyi infection in experimentally infected sheep. Three helminth-free White Bavarian Alpine ewe lambs aged 7 to 10 months were infected with 150 C. daubneyi metacercariae each, while two lambs served as uninfected controls. All animals were housed without any access to pasture and monitored daily for clinical signs. Weekly blood samples were analysed for biochemical and haematological parameters. Faecal samples were examined using the Flukefinder® technique. Egg excretion began in two infected lambs at 86 days post infection (p. i.), but only persisted in one animal, lasting longer than 30 months. In the other infected lamb, the patency ended after the first shedding. One inoculated lamb showed no egg excretion and was excluded from the analysis. No clinical signs were observed in any of the animals during the study. The average daily weight gain from day 1 to day 108 p. i. was 84.5 g in infected lambs and 108.5 g in control lambs (P = 0.421). Blood parameters remained largely within reference ranges, with no significant differences between infected and non-infected lambs. These results indicate that infection with a low number of C. daubneyi metacercariae does not lead to clinical paramphistomidosis nor abnormalities in haematology or clinical chemistry.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 08 Veterinary Medicine > Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine; 08 Veterinary Medicine > Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine > Klinik für Wiederkäuer mit Ambulanz und Bestandsbetreuung
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Life sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892