The Anthelmintic Effect on Bovine Fascioliasis of a Crude Preparation Containing the Root of Matteuccia orientalis

Abstract

The authors reported that a crude preparation containing the root of a fern which was substituted for Guan Zhong to be effective against bovine fascioliasis in 1991. The fern used was identified as Matteuccia orientalis based on its growth, morphology and contents. The present paper describes the results of the anthelmintic efficacy of a crude preparation containing the root of freshly collected Metteuccia orientalis in cattle naturally affected with fascioliasis. Twenty-five cattle with natural fascioliasis were used for the trial. The animals were divided into two groups, 18 in the medicated group and 7 in the non-medicated control group. In the medicated group, the EPG of 10 animals was zero one week after the start of the medication, and remained zero for 8 weeks. The EPG in 4 animals started to decrease one week after medication, and became zero two weeks after the start of the medication, remaining at zero for the next 6 weeks. In the other 4 animals in the medicated group, a statistically significant reduction of the EPG was observed, though some eggs were found in feces. The EPG at the 7 animals in the control group was variable during the trial. From the present results, a crude preparation containing the root of Matteuccia orientalis was effective against bovin fascioliasis. No adverse effects of the crude preparation used were observed in any of the animals.