Bovine fasciolosis in the human fasciolosis hyperendemic Binh Dinh province in Central Vietnam.

A cross-sectional survey on bovine fasciolosis was conducted in the Binh Dinh province of Central Vietnam that was previously identified as hyperendemic for human fasciolosis. In Vietnam, both pure Fasciola gigantica and hybrid and/or introgressed populations of liverflukes bearing genetic material from both Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica infect humans and animals. In this study, 825 cattle were randomly selected from 8 of the 11 provincial districts for faecal collection; blood samples were taken from 400 of these animals. Fasciola eggs and antibodies against Fasciola were detected by a quantitative sedimentation method and an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, respectively. Overall, 54.9% of the animals were shedding Fasciola eggs while 72.2% were Fasciola seropositive. Animals under two years showed lower Fasciola infection rates than older animals. There were no differences in infection rates between districts. These results indicate a very high prevalence of Fasciola infections in cattle in Binh Dinh province. It is concluded that a fasciolosis control programme should be designed in this region aiming at reducing infection in both cattle and humans.

Assessment of a 27-kDa antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of fasciolosis in Vietnamese patients.

Fasciolosis has emerged as an important zoonotic disease in many parts of the world. In recent years, an increasing number of human cases were reported in Vietnam. In this study, the 27-kDa component protein from the excretory/secretory production of adult Fasciola gigantica, purified by high performance liquid chromatography, was assessed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies against Fasciola spp. for diagnosis of human fasciolosis. The ELISA showed a high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (97.67%) when tested on patients with fasciolosis, other parasitic infections, cholangiocarcinoma and on healthy controls. The assay was applied for diagnosis on 143 patients in the Viet Duc-Hanoi hospital who presented with clinical signs of liver disease and lesions in their livers as shown by imaging techniques. Antibodies were found in 37 (25.9%) of these patients, of whom only 3 shed Fasciola eggs in their stools (2.1%). The excellent response to triclabendazole treatment of 37 sero-positive patients confirmed the diagnosis of fasciolosis. This study demonstrated the diagnostic potential for human fasciolosis of the 27-kDa antigen ELISA. Fasciolosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic disease in Vietnam.