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Infections withfasciola SPP in wildlife in Africa

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Summary

A survey was carried out to ascertain the importance of African wildlife in the epidemiology of fascioliasis. Although there are still insufficient records to allow of a firm assessment of the incidence and importance of fascioliasis in wildlife it would seem that the following tentative conclusions may be drawn.

  1. 1.

    Fascioliasis is not very prevalent in wild mammals except perhaps forFasciola nyanzae in the hippopotamus.

  2. 2.

    Most reports ofFasciola gigantica infections are from the African buffalo, the kob and the wildebeest. There are very few reports ofFasciola hepatica infections.

  3. 3.

    There is some evidence from Uganda thatFasciola gigantica infection can be maintained in wildlife in the absence of domestic ruminants.

  4. 4.

    There are signs that fascioliasis is becoming of more importance in wildlife, and deaths have been reported from Rhodesia in five species.

  5. 5.

    It would seem that the giraffe at least could be an efficient reservoir host, as the parasite can survive in this host for several years.

The effects of present and possible future developments in wildlife conservation on the epidemiology of fascioliasis are discussed.

Résumé

Une prospection a été faite pour déterminer l'importance des animaux sauvages africains dans l'épidémiologie de la fasciolose. Bien que les données soient encore insuffisantes pour permettre une évaluation fondée de l'incidence et de l'importance de la fasciolose chez la faune sauvage, il semble que les conclusions provisoires suivantes puissent être tirées:

  1. 1.

    La fasciolose n'est pas très répandue chez les animaux sauvages, á part peut-êtreFasciola nyanzie chez l'hippopotame.

  2. 2.

    La plupart des cas signalés d'infections parFasciola gigantica l'ont été chez le buffle africain et le gnou. Très peu de cas d'infections áFasciola hepatica ont été signalés.

  3. 3.

    Il y a quelques preuves en Ouganda que l'infection áFasciola gigantica puisse se maintenir chez la faune sauvage en l'absence de ruminants domestiques.

  4. 4.

    Il y a des indications que la fasciolose est en train de devenir plus importante chez les animaux, sauvages, et des mortalités ont été signalées en Rhodésie chez cinq espèces.

  5. 5.

    Il semble qu'au moins la girafe pourrait être un réservoir excellent, le parasite pouvant survivre chez cet hôte pendant plusieurs années.

Les effets, sur l'épidémiologie de la fasciolose, des développements actuels et des développements possibles dans l'avenir pour la protection de la faune sauvage, sont discutés.

Sumario

Se realizó una encuesta para determinar la importancia de los animales silvestres Africanos en la epidemiología de la Fasciolasis. Aúnque aún no hay suficiente información que pueda substanciar la incidencia e importancia de la fasciolasis en animales silvestres, parecería que las siguientes conclusiones tentativas podrían ser elaboradas:

  1. 1.

    La Fasciolasis no es muy prevalente en animales silvestres quizs con la excepcion deFasciola nyanzie del hipopótamo.

  2. 2.

    Muchos de los reportes deFasciola gigantica provienen del búfalo Africano y del gnú. Hay muy pocos reportes de infecciones conFasciola hepatica.

  3. 3.

    Hay cierta evidencia de Uganda de que la infección con Fasciola gigántica puede ser mantenida en los animales silvestres en ausencia de domésticos rumiantes.

  4. 4.

    Hay signos de que la Fasciolasis está adquiriendo mas importancia en los animales silvestres, y ya se han reportado muertes en Rodesia en cinco especies.

  5. 5.

    Parecería que la jirafa podría ser un hospedero reservorio eficiente, puesto que el paràsito puede sobrevivir en este huesped por algunos años.

Se discuten los efectos de los presentes avanzes y posiblemente de los futuros en lo que se refiere a conservación de las especies silvestres y su influencia sobre la epidemiología de la Fasciolasis.

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  1. J. A. Hammond

    Present address: Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. East African Veterinary Research Organisation, Muguga, Kenya

    J. A. Hammond

  2. Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh

    J. A. Hammond

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Hammond, J.A. Infections withfasciola SPP in wildlife in Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 4, 1–13 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02357089

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