Dicrocoelium dendriticum

Becker, B., Mehlhorn, H., Andrews, P., Thomas, H. and Eckert, J. (1980) Light and electron microscope studies on the effect of praziquantel in Schistosoma mansoni, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and Tasciola hepatica (Trematoda) in vitro. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 63, 11 3-128. 

Himonas, C.A. and Liakos, V. (1980) Efficacy of albendazole against Dicrocoelium dendriticum in sheep. Veterinary Record 107, 288-289. 

Sperm tail fine structure of Echinococcus granulosus and Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Experimental Parasitology, 24 47-53. 

These are particularly common in cattle sheep and goats producing significant economic losses. The major liver flukes which infect ruminants are Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Fascioloides tmgna, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Clonorchis sinensis and Opis-thorchis spp. These parasites usually cause hepatic problems in the animals. 

Liver fluke infection Fasciola hepatica, F. gi-gantica, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis felineus, Dicrocoelium dendriticum Emetine, dehydroemetine, bithionol, praziquantel, hexachlorophene, dithiazanine iodide... 

Destruction of the apical tegumental layer of helminths by inducing vacuolization may also serve as a selective method of killing the parasites. Praziquantel is known to vacuolize the tegument of S. nuinsoni, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and H. nana which causes disruption of the outer layer [82]. 

Diamphenetide is also active against Dicrocoelium dendriticum in sheep. At an oral dose of 200 mg/kg, it causes more than 90% clearance of the flukes. However, the therapeutic index in this case falls to 2 as the maximum tolerated dose of the drug is 400 mg/kg [33,35,87,88a]. 

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