The pathology of Fasciola hepatica infestation in Nebrodi’s black pigs

Fasciola epatica is a parasite of the bilary ducts of the ruminants, occasionally reported in other species like the pig and the horse. The authors described the parasitic lesions caused by Fasciola hepatica observed from 2003 to 2006 in n°2821 Nebrodi’s Black pigs ranging from 8 months to 4 years. 22% of the livers showed parasitic lesions and 1.28% were caused by Fasciola hepatica. N° 36 livers were submitted to the anatomo-histopathological investigations. The livers showed diffuse perilobular chronic hepatitis and severe thickness of the walls of the biliary ducts with parietal chronic sometimes nodular flogosis. In the submucosa a marked hyperplasia and hypertrophy of branching adenomeri with PAS positive cells were observed. Severe natural infestation by Trematoda in feral Black pigs reflects the prevalence of these parasites in the Nebrodi park area and makes necessary the activation of the prophylaxis measures to prevent the infestation of the ruminants and the man.