Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica infections of the vietnamese swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): prevalence and histopathology.

A survey on the prevalences of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica has been done at slaughterhouse of Ho Chi Minh Ville (Vietnam). From january t o july 1998, 955 swamp buffalo livers have been submitted to veterinary ins pection. Livers and gall bladders have been weighed, parasites have been re covered, identified and numerated. Samples of bile ducts and parenchyma wer e taken for histopathologic studies in order to identify and to count eosin ophils and mast cells by specific stainings (May Grunwald Giemsa-Alcyan blu e, Toluidine blue). 144 livers (46,07 %) were infected: 135 (14,14 %) with F. gigantica only an d 305 (32,04 %) with F: gigantica and F. hepatica. The mean number of fluke s was 78 in infected liver with a low number of F. hepatica (mean = 5,8). The weights of infected livers and gall bladders were increased respectivel y by 29 % and 25,2 %. The walls of large bile ducts were increased of 70 ti mes vis the non infected ones. The numbers of serous mastcell, mucous mastcells and eosinophils in the muc osa of large bile ducts were respectively multiplied by 9,5 - 10,4 and 43,3 in infected livers. These values are similar to those obtained during a st udy of the buffalo bile ducts infections by Gigantocotyle explanatum.