Dicrocoelium dendriticum infestation of mouflons (Ovis musimon) in Catalonia
Lavin, S.; Marco, I.; Vilafranca, M.; Feliu, C.; Viñas, L.
Veterinary Record 143(14): 396
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 9802199 Document Number: 494496
In 1992, a study of mouflon diseases was started to determine the health status of the 2 populations of mouflon in Catalonia, north east Spain. One population (National Hunting Reserve of Ports Tortosa-Beseit) had about 250 mouflon in 1982, but this had decreased to 2 by the end of 1996. 12 animals from this reserve were shot between 1992 and 1996. PM examinations were performed immediately after death. Liver flukes recovered from the animals were identified as D. dendriticum. None of the live animals was shedding the parasite in faeces, and no lesions were found in the liver of mouflon from the National Hunting Reserve of Freser-Setcases. All 12 animals from the National Hunting Reserve of Ports Tortosa-Beseit had macro- and microscopic hepatic lesions and their hepatic parasite burden was between 663 and 2500. The authors suggest D. dendriticum was responsible for the dramatic fall in the numbers of mouflon in southern Catalonia.