title: Rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) on Welsh farms: prevalence, risk factors and observations on co-infection with Fasciola hepatica.
abstract: Reports of Calicophoron daubneyi infecting 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 of C. daubneyi across 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 for C. daubneyi, with herd-level prevalence for cattle (59%) significantly higher compared with flock-level prevalence for sheep (42%, P = 0·029). Co-infection between C. daubneyi and Fasciola hepatica was 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 against F. hepatica, the presence of streams and bog habitats, and Ollerenshaw index values as significant positive predictors for C. daubneyi (P < 0·05). The results raise intriguing questions regarding C. daubneyi epidemiology, potential competition with F. hepatica and the role of climate change in C. daubneyi establishment and its future within the UK.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University,Penglais,Abersystwyth,Ceredigion,UK.
authors.forename: Rhys Aled
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University,Penglais,Abersystwyth,Ceredigion,UK.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre,Job's Well Rd,Johnstown,Carmarthen SA31 3EZ,UK.
authors.forename: E Sian
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University,Penglais,Abersystwyth,Ceredigion,UK.
authors.forename: Hefin Wyn
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000662:veterinary; D005210:Fasciola hepatica; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D010250:Paramphistomatidae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: 
                 Calicophoron daubneyi
              ; 
                 Fasciola hepatica
              ; UK; cattle; co-infection; logistic regression model; null modelling; sheep