Changes

This is usually seen in late winter, early spring and is currently the most common fascoloiasis seen.  It occurs around 4-5 months after ingestion of the metacercariae.  Hypochromic and macrocytic anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia are common, as the adult flukes are capable of sucking up to 0.5ml of blood each day. In heavy infections, this can prove to be a severe loss.  

This is usually seen in late winter, early spring and is currently the most common fascoloiasis seen.  It occurs around 4-5 months after ingestion of the metacercariae.  Hypochromic and macrocytic anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia are common, as the adult flukes are capable of sucking up to 0.5ml of blood each day. In heavy infections, this can prove to be a severe loss.  

Infected animals may present with progressive loss of body condtion, reduced appeptite, which along with hypoalbuminaemia can result in an gaunt animal. Other common signs include pale mucous membranes, and submandibular oedema, more commonly known as 'bottle jaw.'  On biopsy the liver will have an irregular shape, distorted shape with areas of fibrous tissue replacing the cells damaged by the migrating flukes. The bile ducts appear dilated, dark and calcified, and it is often possible to express numerous numbers of adult flukes from within the ducts. Chronic cholagitis is common, resulting in a pipe stem appearance in cattle.

Infected animals may present with progressive loss of body condtion, reduced appeptite, which along with hypoalbuminaemia can result in an gaunt animal. Other common signs include pale mucous membranes, and submandibular oedema, more commonly known as 'bottle jaw.'  On biopsy the liver will have an irregular shape, distorted shape with areas of fibrous tissue replacing the cells damaged by the migrating flukes. The bile ducts appear dilated, and dark, and it is often possible to express numerous numbers of adult flukes from within the ducts. Pathology is similar in both sheep and cattle, expect in cattle you may see calcification of the bile ducts, and enlargement of the gall bladder. The calcified bile ducts are often seen protruding from the liver surface, which is known as 'pipe stem liver.'

======Microscopically======

===Diagnosis===

*reactive hyperplasia of the bile ducts

This is performed primarily on the clinical findings, seasonal occurance, as well as a previous history of fasciolosis on the farm.  These along with post-mortem form the basis for diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica. In practice, diagnosis of ovine fasciolosis is often more straightforward than bovine fasciolosis. 

 

*calcification of the chronically damaged tissue

Examination of faeces for liver fluke eggs is also useful, and may be complemented by other laboratory tests.  Firstly the measurement of Glutamate dehydrogenase

 

[[Category:Liver Trematodes]]

[[Category:Liver Trematodes]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]