Observations on Fasciola hepatica in donkeys from Morocco

Regular monthly examination of a total of 422 donkey livers revealed Fasciola hepatica infection throughout most of the year, with an annual prevalence of 5.9% (range 0-20%). The monthly mean number of worms per animal varied from 0 to 6.4 (annual average 1.6). Of the infected animals 40% had less than ten worms, 28% between ten and 40, 24% between 41 and 70, and 8% over 71. The maximum number of flukes recovered from a single animal was 87. There were two peaks of infection, one in July (from the spring snail infection) and the other in December-February (from the snail infection of late summer-autumn).