This study was carried out through one year from January 2008 to
December 2008 at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate to determine some
epidemiological and clinical features concerning paramphistomiasis
in ruminants. Moreover, different treatment trails were conducted to
evaluate their efficacy. Out of 944 examined animals (316 cattle 218
buffalos and 410 sheep), eggs of paramphistomes were detected in
260 (27.43%), the prevalence rate was 38.92%, 41.74% and 10.98%
among cattle, buffaloes and sheep respectively. Geographically, the
disease was distributed variably among different areas of Kafr El-
Sheikh. Concerning the sex predisposition, the prevalence of the
disease was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in females (41.61%) than
males (27.45%). The prevalence of paramphistomiasis was differed
significantly among different age groups and different seasons.
Clinically, mild infected animals were apparently normal; the moderate
and severely infected animals developed diarrhea, emaciation,
submandibular edema, rough coat and decreased milk yield in
variable degrees correlated to the faecal egg count. Paramphistomes
species which detected were Paramphistomum cervi, Carmyerius
gregarious, and Cotylophoron cotylophorum. Histopathological changes
in infected animals were in the form of mononuclear cell infiltration in
the sub mucosa of the ruminal papillae, necrosis and degeneration in
the gland of the duodenum. It was observed that oxyclozamide was
97.9% effective against mature paramphistomes whereas niclosamide
failed to cure completely any of the infected animals.