Objective To describe two cases of infection with Fasciola hepatica in
young farmed emus, subacute and chronic fasciolosis and a response to
treatment of the flock with albendazole. Procedure Gross lesions were
found at necropsy and hepatic lesions in microscopic examination. The
parasite recovered from one emu was identified by its morphological c
haracteristics and an egg count reduction test was carried out after t
reatment of the flock with albendazole. Results Hepatic lesions resemb
ling subacute and chronic fasciolosis of ruminants were identified. An
adult fluke was recovered from the liver of one of the birds and was
identified as F hepatica. The eggs of the fluke were irregular in shap
e and size. No fluke eggs were identifiable in faeces of live emus 10
days after treatment of the flock with albendazole at a dose of 10 mg/
kg. Conclusions This is the first reported case of infection with F he
patica in farmed emus and the first report of the occurrence of Fascio
la infection is the class Aves. The irregular shape and size of the eg
gs may be attributable to infection of an aberrant host. Treatment wit
h albendazole eliminated eggs from the faeces of the flock.