Early onset of changes to the reproductive system of Fasciola hepatica following in vivo treatment with triclabendazole.

HANNA R.; SCARCELLA S.; SOLANA H.; MCCONNELL S.; FAIRWEATHER I.

VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 p. 341 - 347

0304-4017

Lambs infected with the Cullompton triclabendazole (TCBZ)-susceptible isolate of Fasciolahepatica were treated with TCBZ at a dosage of 10 mg/kg at 16 weeks post-infection. Adultflukes were recovered from the liver at 3 h, 24 h, 48 h and 60 h post-treatment (pt). Theywere processed for histological analysis of the uterus, Mehlis? gland, vitellaria, ovary andtestis. At 3 h pt, the flukes were essentially similar to the controls and were producingnormal eggs. Egg production had ceased by 24 h pt. At this time period, the cells of theMehlis? gland showed some evidence of vacuolation, but otherwise were relatively normal.A shift in the population of vitelline cells towards mature cells was observed at 24 h pt, andthis trend continued at later time-periods. It was accompanied by a breakdown of the cellsand the presence of apoptotic bodies. Marked changes to the ovary were first noted at 48 hpt, as evidenced by vacuolation and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Some disruption tothe testis was seen at 24 h pt, with a reduction in the population of spermatogenic cells,the appearance of apoptotic bodies and some peripheral vacuolation of the tubules. Theseabnormalities increased in severity with longer time periods pt. The results bring forwardthe time-line of cessation of egg production by 24 h, demonstrating that this process isaffected very rapidly pt.