A field study of natural infections in three freshwater snails with Fasciola hepatica and/orParamphistomum daubneyiin central France

Abstract

AbstractNatural infections of three freshwater snails withFasciola hepaticaand/orParamphistomum daubneyiwere studied during two periods in 1996 and 1997 (June–July and September–October) on 18 farms located in the departments of Vienne and Haute Vienne (central France), and known for low prevalences ofF. hepaticainfections in ruminants. A total of 1573Lymnaea glabraand 1421L. truncatula6 mm high or more were collected in the meadows of 13 farms and dissected under laboratory conditions. Snails with single or concurrent infections ofF. hepaticaand/orP. daubneyiwere found for eachLymnaeaspecies. InL. truncatula, global prevalences of natural infections withF. hepatica(3.8% in June–July, and 3.6% in September–October) were significantly greater than those recorded forP. daubneyi(1.1% and 0.8%, respectively). InL. glabra, global prevalences ofF. hepaticainfections (0.4% in each investigation period) were significantly lower than those found inL. truncatula, whereas there were no significant differences between prevalences ofP. daubneyiinfections. A total of 2721Planorbis leucostomameasuring at least 4 mm in diameter were collected in the meadows of the other five farms on whichL. truncatulawas absent. In these planorbids, global prevalences of natural infections withF. hepaticawere 0.4% in each period of investigation. Contrary to fasciolosis, snail infections withP. daubneyiwere not noted on all farms of the Vienne and Haute-Vienne departments. Natural single or concurrent infections withF. hepaticaand/orP. daubneyiinL. glabraand a natural infection ofP. leucostomawithF. hepaticawere found in swampy meadows on acid soil.