[Experimental equine fascioliasis: evolution of serologic, enzymatic and parasitic parameters]

Three, four, and one horses were respectively infected with 100, 1,000, and 5,000 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. Six of them were reinfected 38 weeks later with 1,000 metacercariae each. Specific antibodies assayed by counter-electrophoresis, passive hemagglutination and ELISA tests appeared three to six weeks post-infection and peaked 10 to 17 weeks post-infection. Horses infected by 1,000 metacercariae and more showed 17.6% of positive samples by counter-electrophoresis, 49.2% by ELISA, and 75.6% by passive hemagglutination. Plasma glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels increased significantly 3 to 5 months post-infection in the most infected animals. Eggs of Fasciola hepatica were only observed in 2 of the 8 horses, 14 and 15 weeks post-infection. This last observation indicates the limits of fecal examination in the diagnosis of fascioliasis in horses.