Impact of compound alpha treatment in vivo on egg production by the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica.

Sheep infected with the triclabendazole-susceptible Cullompton isolate of Fasciola hepatica were treated with compound alpha at a dosage of 15mg/kg at 12 weeks post-infection. Adult flukes were recovered from the bile ducts at 24h, 48h and 72h post-treatment (pt). They were processed for whole mount analysis, histology and transmission electron microscopy of the female reproductive system: specifically, the uterus, Mehlis’ gland, ovary and vitellaria. As judged by the appearance of the uterus, normal egg production ceased within 24h of treatment; this phenomenon preceded significant changes to the other reproductive organs.