Prevalence of mixed trematode infections in an abattoir receiving cattle from northern Portugal and north-west Spain

Between February 2007 and January 2009, a total of 776 slaughtered animals were examined for the presence of Trematoda in the liver, gall bladder, oesophagus and stomach (rumen and reticulum). Data collected were analysed by the age and breed of the animals. The percentage of cattle from which Trematoda were found was 38 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 35 to 41 per cent); 28 per cent (95 per cent CI 25 to 31 per cent) had Fasciola hepatica, 12 per cent (95 per cent CI 10 to 14 per cent) Calicophoron daubneyi and 6 per cent (95 per cent CI 4 to 8 per cent) Dicrocoelium species. A significantly high prevalence of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis was observed in cattle over 10 years of age. Autochthonous Rubia Gallega cattle had the highest prevalence of fasciolosis and crossbred cattle had the highest prevalence of dicrocoeliosis (P<0.05). Twenty per cent (95 per cent CI 15 to 25 per cent) of the cattle positive for Fasciola also had Calicophoron species; 10 per cent (95 per cent CI 6 to 14 per cent) also had small liver flukes (Dicrocoelium species).