Review Article

Amphistome infections in domestic and wild ruminants in East and Southern Africa: A review

Davies M. Pfukenyi, Samson Mukaratirwa
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 85, No 1 | a1584 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v85i1.1584 | © 2018 Davies M. Pfukenyi, Samson Mukaratirwa | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 November 2017 | Published: 18 October 2018

About the author(s)

Davies M. Pfukenyi, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe; and, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Samson Mukaratirwa, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

In this article, the main amphistome species infecting domestic and wild ruminants in East and Southern Africa, their snail intermediate hosts and epidemiological features are reviewed and discussed. Twenty-six amphistome species belonging to nine genera from three families occur in domestic and wild ruminants in the region under review and over 70% of them belong to the genera Calicophoron, Carmyerius and Cotylophoron. Of the amphistome species, 76.9% are shared between domestic and wild ruminant hosts – an important observation when considering the different options for control. Seven freshwater snail species belonging to four genera from two families act as intermediate hosts of the identified amphistome species, with the genus Bulinus contributing 57% of the snail species. Some of the snails are intermediate hosts of amphistome species belonging to the same genus or to different genera; a phenomenon not yet fully elucidated as some snails are reported to be naturally infected with amphistome cercariae of unidentified species. Only nine (34.6%, 9/26) of the amphistome species have known snail intermediate hosts, while most (65.4%, 17/26) have unknown hosts. Species of intermediate hosts and the potential of the flukes to infect these hosts, the biological potential of the snail hosts, the definitive hosts management systems and their grazing habits are considered to be the main factors influencing the epidemiology of amphistomosis. Based on the epidemiological features of amphistome infections, various practical control options are discussed. Further research is necessary to determine amphistome–snail associations, develop diagnostic tests that can detect prepatent infections in the definitive host, determine the burden and economic importance of amphistomosis in domestic and wild ruminants and the efficacy of different anthelmintics in the treatment of patent infections.

Keywords

amphistome species; control; snail intermediate hosts; prevention; review; treatment

Metrics

Total abstract views: 5591
Total article views: 5901

 

Crossref Citations

1. SEM and molecular approaches to identify Calicophoron clavula in Saudi Arabia
O. Soliman, M. M. Montaser, A. A. Ashour, M. I. Soliman, A. H. Nigm
Journal of Parasitic Diseases  vol: 44  issue: 1  first page: 239  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1007/s12639-019-01187-3

2. The Calicophoron daubneyi genome provides new insight into mechanisms of feeding, eggshell synthesis and parasite-microbe interactions
Shauna M. Clancy, Mark Whitehead, Nicola A. M. Oliver, Kathryn M. Huson, Jake Kyle, Daniel Demartini, Allister Irvine, Fernanda Godoy Santos, Paul-Emile Kajugu, Robert E. B. Hanna, Sharon A. Huws, Russell M. Morphew, J. Herbert Waite, Sam Haldenby, Mark W. Robinson
BMC Biology  vol: 23  issue: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1186/s12915-025-02114-0

3. Epidemiology of rumen fluke infection in selected buffalo farms in perak, malaysia: prevalence, molecular species identification, and associated risk factors
Nazir Ahmad Tookhy, Nur-Mahiza Md Isa, Yasmin Abd Rahaman, Nur Indah Ahmad, Reuben Sunil Kumar Sharma, Lokman Hakim Idris, Rozaihan Mansor, Dung Thi Bui, Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah, Shoaib Ahmad Shakhes
Parasitology Research  vol: 123  issue: 5  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1007/s00436-024-08219-9

4. Morphology and Mitochondrial Genome of Fischoederius sp. 1 in Thailand
Pichanee Watthanasiri, Amornrat Geadkaew-Krenc, Rudi Grams
The Korean Journal of Parasitology  vol: 59  issue: 4  first page: 355  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.4.355

5. Are Freshwater Snails, Melanoides sp. and Invasive Tarebia granifera (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) Suitable Intermediate Hosts for Calicophoron microbothrium (Trematoda: Paramphistomoidea)? An Experimental Study
Mokgadi P. Malatji, Nkululeko Myende, Samson Mukaratirwa
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 8  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.705954

6. The winner takes it all: dominance ofCalicophoron daubneyi(Digenea: Paramphistomidae) among flukes in Central European beef cattle
Barbora Červená, Lucia Anettová, Eva Nosková, Barbora Pafčo, Ilona Pšenková, Kristýna Javorská, Pavla Příhodová, Jana Ježková, Petr Václavek, Kamil Malát, David Modrý
Parasitology  first page: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1017/S0031182021002158

7. Genetic identification of gastrointestinal parasites in the world's most endangered ungulate, the hirola (Beatragus hunteri)
Susana Remesar, David García‐Dios, Giovanni Forcina, Abdullahi H. Ali, Mathew Ndunda, Michael J. Jowers
Veterinary Record  vol: 196  issue: 12  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1002/vetr.5223

8. Prevalence and associated factors of schistosomiasis among domestic ruminants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yihenew Getahun Ambaw, Simachew Getaneh Endalamew, Ambachew Motbaynor Wubaye, Simegnew Adugna Kallu
Veterinary and Animal Science  vol: 30  first page: 100535  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2025.100535

9. Comparative mitogenomics of freshwater snails of the genus Bulinus, obligatory vectors of Schistosoma haematobium, causative agent of human urogenital schistosomiasis
Si-Ming Zhang, Lijing Bu, Lijun Lu, Caitlin Babbitt, Coen M. Adema, Eric S. Loker
Scientific Reports  vol: 12  issue: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-09305-7

10. Rumen fluke, Fischoederius elongatus (Trematoda: Gastrothylacidae): Preliminary investigation of suitable conditions for egg hatching
Sirapat Nak-on, Thapana Chontananarth
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 282  first page: 109135  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109135

11. Visualization and development of colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the rapid detection and diagnosis of paramphistome infection: colorimetric PAR-LAMP
Sirapat Nak-on, Metawee Sabaijai, Awika Raksaman, Wasin Panich, Thanawan Tejangkura, Thapana Chontananarth
Parasitology Research  vol: 123  issue: 2  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1007/s00436-024-08150-z

12. Exposing the Barcoding Void: An Integrative Approach to Study Snail-Borne Parasites in a One Health Context
Ruben Schols, Aspire Mudavanhu, Hans Carolus, Cyril Hammoud, Kudzai C. Muzarabani, Maxwell Barson, Tine Huyse
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 7  year: 2020  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.605280

13. Multi-detection for paramphistomes using novel manually designed PAR-LAMP primers and its application in a lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) system
Sirapat Nak-on, Thanawan Tejangkura, Thapana Chontananarth
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 317  first page: 109905  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109905

14. Morphological and molecular identification of amphistomes of wild ruminants from selected conservancies of Matebeleland region of Zimbabwe
Madeline Siyazisiwe Sibula, Mokgadi Pulane Malatji, Ignore Nyagura, Pinky Ndlovu, Thulani Jele, Mukhululi Ndlovu, Samson Mukaratirwa
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife  vol: 27  first page: 101065  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101065

15. Innovating stomach fluke identification: an integrative approach combining Micro-CT imaging and molecular tools
Ruben Schols, Arnaud Henrard, Jonathan Brecko, Aspire Mudavanhu, Emilie Goossens, Natascha Steffanie, Sarah Clegg, Maarten P.M. Vanhove, Tine Huyse
International Journal for Parasitology  vol: 55  issue: 12  first page: 615  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.05.002

16. Helminth parasites of impalas, Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein) (Ruminantia: Bovidae), in the Kruger National Park, South Africa: infection patterns from birth to adulthood
IG Horak, K Junker, GJ Gallivan
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association  vol: 94  issue: 1  first page: 87  year: 2023  
doi: 10.36303/JSAVA.553

17. Rumen Fluke in Cattle and Buffaloes in Asia: A Review
Nazir Ahmad Tookhy, Md Isa Nur-Mahiza, Rozaihan Mansor, Abd Rahman Yasmin, Nur Indah Ahmad, Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah, Lokman Hakim Idri
Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science  vol: 45  issue: 3  first page: 781  year: 2022  
doi: 10.47836/pjtas.45.3.15

18. Prevalence and geographical distribution of amphistomes of African wild ruminants: A scoping review
Madeline Siyazisiwe Sibula, Ignore Nyagura, Mokgadi Pulane Malatji, Samson Mukaratirwa
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife  vol: 23  first page: 100906  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100906

19. The effect of naturally acquired rumen fluke infection on animal health and production in dairy and beef cattle in the UK
Erwan Atcheson, Bernard Lagan, Ross McCormick, Hilary Edgar, Robert E. B. Hanna, Naomi H. Rutherford, Amanda McEvoy, Kathryn M. Huson, Alan Gordon, Aurelie Aubry, Mary Vickers, Mark W. Robinson, Jason P. Barley
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 9  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.968753

20. Invasive snails, parasite spillback, and potential parasite spillover drive parasitic diseases of Hippopotamus amphibius in artificial lakes of Zimbabwe
Ruben Schols, Hans Carolus, Cyril Hammoud, Kudzai C. Muzarabani, Maxwell Barson, Tine Huyse
BMC Biology  vol: 19  issue: 1  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1186/s12915-021-01093-2

21. Impact of host sex and age on the diversity of endoparasites and structure of individual-based host-parasite networks in nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii Angas) from three game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa
Kerstin Junker, Joop Boomker, Ivan G. Horak, Boris R. Krasnov
Parasitology Research  vol: 121  issue: 11  first page: 3249  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07653-x

22. Amphistome Infection and Species Diversity of Freshwater Snails Collected from Selected Wildlife Drinking Water Sources in Matebeleland Region of Zimbabwe
Madeline Siyazisiwe Sibula, Mokgadi Pulane Malatji, Cosmas Nyahunda, Samson Mukaratirwa
Veterinary Sciences  vol: 11  issue: 5  first page: 211  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/vetsci11050211

23. Complexity of schistosome vector bulinine snails in Kenya: Insights from nuclear genome size variation, complete mitochondrial genome sequence, and morphometric analysis
Si-Ming Zhang, Coen M. Adema, Mohamed R. Habib, Abdelmalek Lekired, Marijan Posavi, Martina R. Laidemitt, Geoffrey M. Maina, Ibrahim N. Mwangi, Joseph M. Kinuthia, Martin W. Mutuku, Eric S. Loker, Bonnie L Webster
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases  vol: 19  issue: 7  first page: e0013305  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013305

24. Prevalence of Bovine Trematodiases and Associated Risk Factors in Nyagatare District, Rwanda
Margaret Tumusiime, Jean Christian Manishimwe, Pie Ntampaka
Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports  vol: Volume 14  first page: 221  year: 2023  
doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S430581

25. Freshwater snail-borne parasitic diseases in Africa
Papa Mouhamadou Gaye, Souleymane Doucouré, Doudou Sow, Cheikh Sokhna, Stéphane Ranque
Tropical Medicine and Health  vol: 52  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s41182-024-00632-1

26. Molecular detection of Fasciola, Schistosoma and Paramphistomum species from freshwater snails occurring in Gauteng and Free State provinces, South Africa
Gantshe G. Molaba, Nthatisi I. Molefe-Nyembe, Oriel M. Taioe, Lehlohonolo S. Mofokeng, Oriel M.M. Thekisoe, Khethiwe Mtshali
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 320  first page: 109978  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109978

27. Epidemiology and diversity of gastrointestinal tract helminths of wild ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa: a review
V. Phetla, M. Chaisi, M.P. Malatji
Journal of Helminthology  vol: 98  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1017/S0022149X24000361

28. One Health monitoring reveals invasive freshwater snail species, new records, and undescribed parasite diversity in Zimbabwe
Aspire Mudavanhu, Ruben Schols, Emilie Goossens, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Tawanda Manyangadze, Luc Brendonck, Tine Huyse
Parasites & Vectors  vol: 17  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06307-4

29. Bulinus snails in the Lake Victoria Basin in Kenya: Systematics and their role as hosts for schistosomes
Caitlin R. Babbitt, Martina R. Laidemitt, Martin W. Mutuku, Polycup O. Oraro, Sara V. Brant, Gerald M. Mkoji, Eric S. Loker, Brianna R. Beechler
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases  vol: 17  issue: 2  first page: e0010752  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010752

30. Occurrence of Chiorchis fabaceus (Trematoda: Cladorchiidae) in a wild Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus): New parasitological data for this imperilled sirenian
Manuel Uribe, Katherine Arévalo-González, Anja Taubert, Carlos Hermosilla, Jenny J. Chaparro-Gutiérrez
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports  vol: 57  first page: 101164  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101164

31. Morphological and molecular characterization of Calicophoron raja (Näsmark, 1937) collected from wild Bovidae in South Africa
Aoi Ikeuchi, Daisuke Kondoh, Ali Halajian, Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife  vol: 19  first page: 38  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.08.003

32. Prevalencia y control de Cotylophoron spp.: Un problema emergente infección parasitaria entre rebaños de ganado lechero establecidos en zonas rurales áreas de los Andes tropicales, Mérida, Venezuela.
Anacelmira Urbina-Andueza, Juan Pablo Uzcátegui-Varela, Janeth Caamaño-Carrero, Osmary Araque, Adriana Morgado-Osorio, Hector Nava-Trujillo
Revista Científica de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias  vol: 35  issue: 1  first page: 12  year: 2025  
doi: 10.52973/rcfcv-e35514

33. Using Biocontrol Fungi to Control Helminthosis in Wild Animals: An Innovative Proposal for the Health and Conservation of Species
Júlia dos Santos Fonseca, Beatriz Bacelar Barbosa, Adolfo Paz Silva, María Sol Arias Vázquez, Cristiana Filipa Cazapal Monteiro, Huarrisson Azevedo Santos, Jackson Victor de Araújo
Pathogens  vol: 14  issue: 8  first page: 775  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3390/pathogens14080775

34. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of amphistome infection in domestic ruminants in the sub-Saharan Africa region
I. Nyagura, M.P. Malatji, P.I. Ngcamphalala, S. Mukaratirwa
Journal of Helminthology  vol: 98  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1017/S0022149X24000725

35. The prevalence and infection rates of amphistome species in intermediate snail hosts: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Ignore Nyagura, Mokgadi Pulane Malatji, Samson Mukaratirwa
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 11  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1418979