Taenia hydatigena: a cause of persistent liver condemnations in lambs.
A problem of high levels of liver condemnations which had affected bought-in lambs fattened on a North Yorkshire farm for several years was investigated. Because the farmer spread pig slurry on the land, migrating Ascaris suum larvae were initially suspected as a cause but the investigation eliminated this possibility. Migrating Taenia hydatigena larvae were found in tissue sections and isolated from livers. A combination of parasitological and serological evidence using oncospheral antigen in an ELISA suggested that infection was occurring immediately before the arrival of lambs on the farm, although a source of infection on the farm was also identified. Peak liver condemnations occurred in December-January. Possible reasons for this are suggested and the relevance of these findings to national liver condemnation losses are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007814:Larva; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013621:Taenia / Q000276:immunology; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000906:Antibodies