Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Synonym(s): Common lancet fluke, Small liver fluke
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Trematoda; Dicrocoeliidae; Dicrocoelium dendtriticum.
Etymology
- Dicrocoelium dendriticum has a unique lifecycle that involves 3 hosts:
- The two intermediate hosts are a snail and an ant.
- Definitive host species include most herbivorous mammals. Definitive host species commonly infected include ruminants such as cattle, buffalos, small ruminants and cervids.
- Equids, camelids pigs, rabbits and humans are infected extremely rarely.
- Rarely pathogenic to cattle compared to Fasciola liver flukes.
- Will occasionally cause cholangitis and fibrosis that may limit production in heavy infections.
Distribution
- The parasite is present in parts of Europe, including Scandinavia, Russia and parts of southern Europe:
- In the UK, prevalence is thought to be low and restricted to certain areas of the Outer Hebrides, Cornwall and Northern England.
- The parasite has also been detected in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia.
- The two intermediate host species, terrestrial land snails and ants, govern local distribution of D. dendriticum.
- Over 90 species of terrestrial land snail have been identified to be infected with D. dendriticum. The predominant snail intermediate host species for D. dendriticum in the UK are Helicella species. Helicella species can be found in many lowland and alpine environments although some species prefer particular soil types.
- In the UK Formica species are the predominant ant intermediate host species for D. dendriticum. Formica ants prefer environments in hilly and mountainous regions; particularly unmanaged grasslands.
- Therefore, the environment to support development of D. dendriticum must be suitable for both intermediate hosts.
- Other species of Dicrocoelium are of local importance globally. Dicrocoelium hospes (African lancet fluke) has been identified across sub-Saharan Africa in ruminant definitive hosts.
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Resting Forms
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Clinical Effects
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Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Beck M A, Goater C P, Colwell D D & van Paridon B J (2014) Fluke abundance versus host age for an invasive trematode (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) of sympatric elk and beef cattle in southeastern Alberta, Canada. Int J Parasitol Parasites 3 (3), 263-268 PubMed.
- Sargison N D, Baird G J, Sotiraki S, Gilleard J S & Busin V (2012) Hepatogenous photosensitisation in Scottish sheep casued by Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Vet Parasitol 189, 233-237 PubMed.
- Broglia A, Heidrich J, Lanfranchi P, Nöckler K & Schuster R (2009) Experimental ELISA for diagnosis of ovine dicrocoeliosis and application in a field survey. Parasitol Res 104, 949-953 PubMed.
- Otranto D & Traversa D (2002) A review of dicrocoeliosis of ruminants including recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment. Vet Parasitol 107, 317-335 PubMed.
- Manga-González M Y, González-Lanza C, Cabanas E & Campo R (2001) Contributions to and review of dicrocoeliosis, with special reference to the intermediate hosts of Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Parasitol 123 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- NOAH & VMD (2020) Joint Statement from the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) on the Use of Flukicides in Dairy Cattle. Website: www.noah.co.uk (pdf download).
- Taylor M A, Coop R L & Wall R L (2007) Veterinary Parasitology. 3rd edn. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK.
- Andrews A, Blowey R W, Boyd H & Eddy R G (2004) Bovine Medicine: Diseases and Husbandry of Cattle. 2nd edn. Blackwell Science Ltd, UK. Website: www.semanticscholar.org (pdf download).
- Kaufmann K (1996) Parasitic Infections of Domestic Animals. Birkhauser Verlag, Switzerland.
Organisation(s)
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK. Website: www.ed.ac.uk/vet.