ants and Liver-Diseases--Parasitic

In the district of Frankfurt/Oder of the German Democratic Republic, faecal examinations of 143 sheep stocks revealed a 31.3 percent infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum. In different territories of the district, the intensity of the infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum varied remarkably. Detailed investigations demonstrated, that the parasite was limited to pastures with Brownearth soil. Routine examinations revealed the fact, that the egg-output of Dicrocoelium dendritcum was very variable during the pasture season. During the whole time of the examinations, the authors found eggs in the faeces of sheep belonging to Dicrocoelium dendriticun. In the German Democratic Republic, this helminth species is not restricted to hills with limestones. It occurs also in lowlands with small amounts of lime like the Brown-earth zones of the district Frankfurt/Oder.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Calcium; Dicrocoeliasis; Dicrocoelium; Female; Gallbladder Diseases; Germany, East; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Snails; Soil