The giant liver fluke Fascioloides magna (Bassi 1875) in cervids in the Czech Republic and potential of its spreading to Germany

Abstract

The giant liver fluke Fascioloides magna is an important parasite of cervids in Europe. From September 2003 to December 2005, faecal samples and livers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) were investigated to determine the current distribution of the fluke in the Czech Republic. Faecal samples were collected from 20 different areas, and livers of hunted deer were dissected from each locality to confirm F. magna infection. The prevalence of F. magna in examined areas determined by coprological examination varied from 4% to 95%. Moreover, new foci of F. magna infection were discovered in all localities in the Sumava mountains where F. magna was observed; this has epizootiological importance due to the possibility of the spread of F. magna into the German territory (Bavaria).