| dc.description.abstract | In this article, the main amphistome species infecting domestic and wild ruminants in East and
Southern Africa, their snail intermediate hosts and epidemiological features are reviewed and
discussed. Twenty-six amphistome species belonging to nine genera from three families occur
in domestic and wild ruminants in the region under review and over 70% of them belong to
the genera Calicophoron, Carmyerius and Cotylophoron. Of the amphistome species, 76.9% are
shared between domestic and wild ruminant hosts – an important observation when
considering the different options for control. Seven freshwater snail species belonging to four
genera from two families act as intermediate hosts of the identified amphistome species, with
the genus Bulinus contributing 57% of the snail species. Some of the snails are intermediate
hosts of amphistome species belonging to the same genus or to different genera; a phenomenon
not yet fully elucidated as some snails are reported to be naturally infected with amphistome
cercariae of unidentified species. Only nine (34.6%, 9/26) of the amphistome species have
known snail intermediate hosts, while most (65.4%, 17/26) have unknown hosts. Species of
intermediate hosts and the potential of the flukes to infect these hosts, the biological potential
of the snail hosts, the definitive hosts management systems and their grazing habits are
considered to be the main factors influencing the epidemiology of amphistomosis. Based on
the epidemiological features of amphistome infections, various practical control options are
discussed. Further research is necessary to determine amphistome–snail associations, develop
diagnostic tests that can detect prepatent infections in the definitive host, determine the burden
and economic importance of amphistomosis in domestic and wild ruminants and the efficacy
of different anthelmintics in the treatment of patent infections. | en_ZW |
