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1 July 1996 Susceptibility of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) to Experimentally-Induced Fascioloides magna Infections
William J. Foreyt
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Abstract

Three captive Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), consisting of a female lamb, a yearling ram, and a 2½-yr-old castrated ram were inoculated orally with 50 (n = 1) or 100 (n = 2) metacercariae of Fascioloides magna in November 1991. All three sheep died from fluke infection on post-inoculation days 104, 140, and 197, respectively. Numbers of F. magna recovered were 3 (3%), 18 (36%), and 21 (21%). All flukes were immature and were recovered from liver (n = 36), lungs (n = 2), or peritoneal spaces (n = 4). Two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), each were inoculated orally with 100 metacercariae at the same time as the bighorn sheep. Eggs of F. magna were detected in the feces of the deer on postinoculation days 199 and 211, respectively. Both deer remained healthy for the year-long experiment. Thus, bighorn sheep are susceptible to infection with F. magna and are likely to die within approximately 6 months of exposure.

Foreyt: Susceptibility of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) to Experimentally-Induced Fascioloides magna Infections
William J. Foreyt "Susceptibility of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) to Experimentally-Induced Fascioloides magna Infections," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 32(3), 556-559, (1 July 1996). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-32.3.556
Received: 21 August 1995; Published: 1 July 1996
KEYWORDS
Bighorn Sheep
experimental infection
Fascioloides magna
liver flukes
Ovis canadensis
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