The macroscopic and associated histopathological abnormalities in liver and bile duct of buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis), naturally infected with amphistome, slaughtered in different areas of Kashmir valley

This study reports the infection of liver and bile ducts, carried out from July 2012 to June 2014 on 282 randomly selected buffaloes—Bubalus bubalis, infected with the amphistome trematode parasite. Liver samples of buffaloes infected with amphistome were collected from the different abattoirs of Kashmir valley. Histological studies of infected livers revealed severe damage resulting in disrupted hepatic cords, inflammation, atrophy and necrosis. Bile duct hyperplasia was prominent with proliferation of epithelial cells. Macroscopic examination revealed massive infection of adult fluke in bile ducts and intrahepatic ductules in 49 (17.37) cases. The predominant features were multifocal granulomatous nodules throughout the luminal surface of the bile ducts. Histopathological study of 4 μm thick tissue sections cut adjacent to and through the site of attachment of individual worm and stained with hematoxylin and eosin revealed intense infiltration of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells, eosinophils as well as fibrocytes. This was associated with fibrosis and thickening of the bile ducts. Due to high level of prevalence and intensity of natural infection, amphistomiasis appears to be endemic in this geographical region and probably represent one of the most important animal health problems. The purpose of this paper is to overview the gross pathology (Macroscopic) and histopathological findings of amphistome infectionof liver of buffalo. It is hoped that the study may draw attention to the need for educating farmers, regarding the economic importance of infection of these amphistome parasites and also for the development of control strategies to prevent the spread of infection to ruminants