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These flukes have a thick body and are 8–16 mm long and 6 mm wide. They are parasites of the pancreatic ducts and occasionally of the bile ducts of sheep, pigs, and cattle in Brazil and Asia. Three species, Eurytrema pancreaticum, E coelomaticum, and E ovis are recognized. The first intermediate hosts are terrestrial snails (Bradybaena spp), and the cercariae encyst in grasshoppers (Conocephalus spp), which are the second intermediate host. After the animal ingests a grasshopper, the immature flukes are released and migrate to the pancreatic duct, where they mature and produce eggs in ~7–14 wk.
There are no obvious clinical signs. Dicrocoelium-like eggs can be demonstrated in feces. Light infections cause proliferative inflammation of the pancreatic duct, which may become enlarged and occluded. In heavy infections, fibrotic, necrotic, and degenerative lesions develop. These result in increased plasma concentrations of γ-glutamyl trans-peptidase and AST. Losses are reported due to condemned pancreas, but the pathogenesis suggests an additional loss of production.
As with Dicrocoelium, the control of intermediate hosts may not be practical. Treatment with praziquantel (20 mg/kg, for 2 days) or albendazole (7.5 mg/kg for sheep, 10 mg/kg for cattle) have been reported to be effective.
Last full review/revision March 2012 by Stuart M. Taylor, PhD, BVMS, MRCVS, DECVP
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