Treatment of fascioloidosis (Fascioloides magna, Bassi, 1875) in free ranging and captive red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) at eastern Croatia

After the large American liver fluke (Fascioloides magna) was detected in Croatia for the first time in 2000, treatment of fascioloidosis was conducted in the free-ranging population over a period of three years (from 2001 to 2003) and in captive red deer during the winter seson of 2002. The free-ranging red deer population was treated with a mixture of triclabendazole and standard deer salt brick components at a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight per deer, twice in seven days. Captive deer were treated individually by intra-ruminal application of triclabendazole using a needle or oesophageal tube. Coprological control was made 30 days after administration of antiparasitic preparation. Positive results (findings of F. magna eggs in faeces) in the free ranging deer population varied from 20 % to 80 % respectively. In captive deer we recorded almost ideal efficiency of triclabendazole (after treatment 95.5 % of all faecal samples was free of F. magna eggs). Key words: red deer, large American liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, antiparasitic treatment, triclabendazol