Sonoparasitology: An alternative approach to parasite detection in sheep

Objective of the present review is to describe in a systematic way potential uses of ultrasonographic examination in diagnosis of parasitic diseases of sheep and to comment upon its potential usefulness in the health management of flocks. The technique has been primarily employed for diagnosis of hydatid disease in live sheep, by imaging lesions in the liver and/or the lungs of affected animals; this can be of potential value in health management of flocks, as other methods used to diagnose the disease may not have increased diagnostic accuracy. Further, the technique has been used for diagnosis of Fasciola infection, during the ductal phase, as well as for diagnosis of coenurosis. It is concluded that sonoparasitology should be considered as a diagnostic possibility of valuable potential for application in sheep.