Epidemiology of eurytrematosis (Eurytrema spp. Trematoda: Dicrocoeliidae) in slaughtered beef cattle from the central-west region of the State of Paraná, Brazil

Bovine eurytrematosis (BE) in Brazil is caused by Eurytrema coelomaticum; the disease results in the condemnation of the pancreas of infected animals. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of eurytrematosis in cattle submitted for slaughter during June 2003 to May 2004 at the municipal abattoir of Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil, and compare gross observation of infection with histological findings. During the period studied, 1828 pancreases were collected randomly. The average prevalence was 47.8% (874/1828); prevalence varied from 26.9% (46/171) to 72.9% (105/144). It was discovered that the quantity of parasites within the interlobular pancreatic ducts was directly proportional to pancreatic destruction; females were more predominately infected relative to males; BE is endemic within the region of Campo Mourão; the average age of infection increases proportionally with prevalence; gross evaluation of bovine eurytrematosis is not efficient to characterize infection by E. coelomaticum in susceptible animals.