[Comparison of the detection of foci of fascioliasis by the ELISA test on lactoserum and serum and by coproscopy].

The purpose of this investigation was to compare techniques to diagnose herds infected by Fasciola hepatica. Based on a previous survey in the slaughter houses of Côtes-du-Nord, 37 herds were selected on the frequency of condemned livers per herd. Fecal examinations and immunodiagnosis by ELISA technique were performed. Antibodies were searched for in the pooled milk of each herd and in sera of 30 to 80% of the cattle. On 9 herds without any previous condemnation, seven had a negative immunodiagnosis on pooled milk and 0 to 16% serologically positive animals. The two other herds had a suspect immunodiagnosis on pooled milk and 28 to 65% serologically positive animals. In nine herds presenting a previous liver seizure, immunodiagnosis on pooled milk were positive on eight of them. 42 to 100% of the cattle were serologically positive and 25 to 75% of the fecal examinations were positive. In 19 herds having previously two or more liver confiscations, 68 to 100% of the cattle were serologically positive, all the pooled milk were immunologically positive and just one herd, treated previously, had a 100% negative fecal examination. The results of fecal examination and immunodiagnosis are globally comparable to the slaughter house survey. Nevertheless the sensitivity of the fecal examination and more specially the immunodiagnosis is higher. The herd diagnosis based on the examination of pooled milk has a practical application in further investigation of parasitic diseases distribution in dairy herd.