Two cathepsin L proteinases, cathepsin L1 and cathepsin L2, secreted by liver flukes may be involved in tissue penetration, nutrition, and protection from immune attack. To ascertain the immunoprophylactic potential of these proteinases, and of another molecule, liver fluke hemoglobin (Hb), we performed vaccine trials in cattle. In the first vaccine trial various doses of cathepsin L1 were test...

Fasciola hepatica, common liver fluke, infects cattle and sheep causing disease and production losses costing approximately $3 billion annually. Current control relies on drugs designed to kill the parasite. However, resistance is evident worldwide and widespread in some areas. Work towards a vaccine has identified several antigens of F. hepatica that show partial efficacy in terms of reducing ...

Water fungi and fungus-like organisms as a biological factor of ecological water systems have significant influence on the environment and its modification. They decompose necrosis substrates found in water bodies. Fungi also can act as facultative parasites and then frequently occur on their hosts. The main aim of the present study is to investigate which of the fungi and straminipiles can gro...

Background The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica is one of the most important parasites affecting animal health all over the world, causing the so called liver fluke disease (fascioliosis). Although infections of humans are rather rare in most western countries, several million people worldwide are infected by this trematode. Beside its threat to humans the infection of animal stock leads to large ...

Passive intraperitoneal transfer of sera from Fasciola hepatica-infected sheep, cattle or rats can protect naive rats from F. hepatica infection, suggesting a parasite killing mechanism within the peritoneal cavity that is dependent on the presence of parasite-specific antibody. We investigated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by resident peritoneal lavage cell populations, contain...

Fasciola hepatica, a liver fluke, is a causative agent of fascioliasis in mammals (sheep, cattle, goat, ox and other ruminants, pig, hare rabbit, beaver, elephant, dog, cat and kangaroo). In the unusual hosts, such as man and the horse, the fluke may be found in the lungs, under skin or other situations. The parasite Fasciola hepatica is a hermaphroditic trematode, which is particularly common ...