Rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) on Welsh farms: prevalence, risk factors and observations on co-infection withFasciola hepatica

Abstract

SUMMARYReports ofCalicophoron daubneyiinfecting livestock in Europe have increased substantially over the past decade; however, there has not been an estimate of its farm level prevalence and associated risk factors in the UK. Here, the prevalence ofC. daubneyiacross 100 participating Welsh farms was recorded, with climate, environmental and management factors attained for each farm and used to create logistic regression models explaining its prevalence. Sixty-one per cent of farms studied were positive forC. daubneyi, with herd-level prevalence for cattle (59%) significantly higher compared with flock-level prevalence for sheep (42%,P= 0·029). Co-infection betweenC. daubneyiandFasciola hepaticawas observed on 46% of farms; however, a significant negative correlation was recorded in the intensity of infection between each parasite within cattle herds (rho = −0·358,P= 0·007). Final models showed sunshine hours, herd size, treatment regularity againstF. hepatica, the presence of streams and bog habitats, and Ollerenshaw index values as significant positive predictors forC. daubneyi(P< 0·05). The results raise intriguing questions regardingC. daubneyiepidemiology, potential competition withF. hepaticaand the role of climate change inC. daubneyiestablishment and its future within the UK.