Coprological study of the Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Digenea) egg elimination by cattle in highland areas in León Province, northwest Spain.

Dicrocoelium dendriticum egg output in cattle from five locations of the Porma river basin (León Province, Northwest Spain) was studied at monthly intervals between March 1986 and March 1987. We found D. dendriticum eggs in 37.64% of the 1251 samples examined, and the number of eggs per gram (epg) ranged from 10 to 1000 (average, 41.65 +/- 2.73). The main egg-elimination period, for prevalence, was autumn-winter. The average epg values were quite similar during all months except March, when the maximum was detected. The infection prevalence increased in cattle aged up to 2 years and then a slight, gradual decrease was observed with increasing host age. The average epg values ranged from 40.08 +/- 3.24 to 48.33 +/- 12.42 in all age groups except the oldest animals, for which the figures were lower. The rate of egg elimination was higher in animals that came from locations situated at a greater altitude.