[Geopolitical distribution of the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica in Santa Catarina State, Brazil].

During 12 years feces samples from cows, water buffaloes, sheeps and goats were examined by sequential tamis filtration to show the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica eggs. The material came from 129 municipalities of Santa Catarina State, and 5 g of feces per animal were examined. The occurrence of F. hepatica was confirmed in 64.82% of the municipalities. Considering the host, F. hepatica was confirmed in goats from Florianópolis, São José, São João Batista and Guaramirim municipalities; in sheep from Brusque, Pomerode, Palhoça and São José; in water buffaloes from 9 and in cows from 86 municipalities. For this study, 13,762 feces samples were examined and in 3,814 the presence of eggs of F. hepatica was demonstrated. The percentage of occurrence for host species was 27.86 in cows, 24.72 in water buffaloes, 16.92 in sheep and 15.66 in goats. By the results it was demonstrated that Itajaí Valley at Southeast Hidrographic Basin, in Santa Catarina State is an endemic area of F. hepatica, even though Uruguai Hidrographic Basin was not referred as a geographical record for this parasite.