title: Higher physiopathogenicity by Fasciola gigantica than by the genetically close F. hepatica: experimental long-term follow-up of biochemical markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fascioliasis is caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica. The latter, always considered secondary in human infection, nowadays appears increasingly involved in Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, little is known about its pathogenicity, mainly due to difficulties in assessing the moment a patient first becomes infected and the differential diagnosis with F. hepatica.
  
  
  METHODS
  A long-term, 24-week, experimental study comparing F. hepatica and F. gigantica was made for the first time in the same animal model host, Guirra sheep. Serum biochemical parameters of liver damage, serum electrolytes, protein metabolism, plasma proteins, carbohydrate metabolism, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation were analysed on a biweekly basis as morbidity indicators. Serum anti-Fasciola IgG, coproantigen and egg shedding were simultaneously followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  rDNA and mtDNA sequencing and the morphometric study by computer image analysis system (CIAS) showed that fasciolids used fitted standard species characteristics. Results demonstrated that F. gigantica is more pathogenic, given its bigger size and biomass but not due to genetic differences which are few. Fasciola gigantica shows a delayed development of 1-2 weeks regarding both the biliary phase and the beginning of egg shedding, with respective consequences for biochemical modifications in the acute and chronic periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher F. gigantica pathogenicity contrasts with previous studies which only reflected the faster development of F. hepatica observed in short-term experiments.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M Adela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bargues
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Messaoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khoubbane
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Artigas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", 6 Louis Pasteur street, Cluj-Napoca 400394, Romania.
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berinde
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15784 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Florencio M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ubeira
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitoloxía, Centro de Investigacións Agrarias de Mabegondo, Instituto Galego da Calidade Alimentaria-Xunta de Galicia, Carretera AC-542 de Betanzos a Mesón do Vento, km 7, 15318 Abegondo, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla, Calle Glorieta del Ejercito No. 1, 28047 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Veronica H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Agramunt
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain S.Mas.Coma@uv.es.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mas-Coma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005209:Fasciola / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Biochemical parameters; Disease phases; Fasciola gigantica; Fasciola hepatica; Physiopathogenicity; Sheep