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=Liver fluke - ''Fasciola hepatica''=
==Introduction==
[[Image:Liver flukes donkey.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Liver fluke (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
At [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary], a 17% prevalence rate of ''Fasciola hepatica'' has been noted from post-mortem findings on a specific group of donkeys from Ireland. A high prevalence of infection associated with clinical disease and death has been reported in donkeys in ''Fasciola''-endemic areas (Pankhurst, 1963, Fahmy and El-Attar, 1990).
In Ethiopia a high prevalence of fasciolosis (72%) has been reported from the highland ''Fasciola''-endemic areas (Getachew ''et al'', 2006). Donkeys may be infected chronically or sub-clinically so that the clinical effects may not always be discernable, but the parasites can have a significant effect on blood loss, production and performance. Studies in Bolivia showed that, next to domestic ruminants, donkeys are the second most important definitive hosts of ''F. hepatica'', thus playing a significant zoonotic role in human infection (Mas-Coma et al, 1999).
==Diagnosis==
[[Image:Liver flukes 2 donkey.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Liver fluke (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
===Clinical signs===
Donkeys with flukes are often asymptomatic.
===Laboratory tests===
They may have liver enzyme levels within the normal range.
Diagnosis is confirmed by '''faecal egg counts''' using a modified sedimentation technique.
===''Post-mortem''===
[[Image:Liver flukes 3 donkey.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center>Liver fluke (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
''Post-mortem'' examinations at [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/ The Donkey Sanctuary] have revealed very little reaction to the presence of the flukes in the bile ducts or liver tissue in donkeys. However, Collins (1961) reported greyish-white thread-like scars over the entire surface of the liver, with thickenings of the hepatic bile ducts in donkeys that died of fasciolosis.
Similar ''post-mortem'' findings were reported from donkeys that died of ''F. gigantica'' infections in Egypt (Fahmy and El-Attar, 1990). Grey nodules (1 to 3 mm in diameter) blocking bile ducts were demonstrated in donkeys infected with large numbers of flukes.
===Histopathology===
Histopathological findings depicted a great deal of connective tissue in interlobular bile ducts.
==Treatment==
* [[Benzimidazoles|'''Triclabendazole''']] is an effective treatment but has no market authorisation for use in donkeys
==Control==
* Control measures include good pasture management such as using sheep on donkey pastures to reduce pasture burdens (sheep would also need to be treated)
* Improve drainage in wet or marshy areas
==References==
* Trawford, A. and Getachew, M. (2008) Parasites In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) ''The Professional Handbook of the Donkey'', 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 6
* Collins, D.R. (1961). ‘Fascioliasis in a Mexican burro’. ''JAVMA''. 139 (12). pp 1321-1323.
* Fahmy, M.F.M., El-Attar, S.R. (1990). ‘Pathological study on fascioliasis in camels and solipeds’. ''Egyptian Journal of Comparative Pathology and Clinical Pathology'', 3(2). pp 285-291.
* Getachew, M., Innocent, G., Trawford, A., Feseha, G., Reid, S.J.W., and Love, S. (2006). ‘Equine cestodosis: a sero-epidemiological study of ''Anoplocephala perfoliata'' infection in Ethiopia’. Proceedings of the 9th Congress of World Equine Veterinary Association. 22-26 January 2006. Marrakech, Morocco.
* Mas-Coma, M.S., Bargues, M.D., and Esteban, J.G. (1999). ‘Human fasciolosis’. In: ''Fasciolosis''. Dalton, J.P. (ed). CAB International, Oxon. pp. 411-432.
* Pankhurst, J. W. (1963). ‘Liver flukes in donkeys’. ''Vet. Rec''. 75. p 434.