Resistance to Fasciola hepatica in calves harbouring primary patent Schistosoma bovis infections.

A substantial resistance to a heterologous challenge with Fasciola hepatica was demonstrated in calves harbouring primary patent Schistosoma bovis infections of an age of 10 weeks at challenge, the mean worm burden being reduced by 29.9% (p less than 0.025) in calves primarily infected with S. bovis as compared with that of the challenge control group. The heterologous resistance was also evidenced by less pronounced liver tissue damage and lower serum gammaglutamyl-transpeptidase values in the S. bovis-infected animals compared with the challenge control group.