On liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in captive vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) at Knowsley Safari, Prescot, UK

Knowsley Safari (KS), Prescot, UK houses a variety of captive exotic ungulates. As part of their animal welfare plan, a prospective coprological survey was undertaken for liver fluke. In June 2021, 330 faecal samples, representative of 18 exotic ungulatespecies, were processed by sedimentation and filtration, with examination by coproscopy. Finding fascioliasis in all five vicuña alone, with faecal egg counts ranging from 1 to 8 eggs per gram, anthelminthic treatment was attempted twice, with three coprological reviews. Whilst first anthelminthic treatment (oxyclozanide) was equivocal, second anthelminthic treatment (triclabendazole) was proven effective upon two later follow-ups. An initial malacological survey of 16 freshwater sites in KS, first found Galba truncatula at two sites in June 2021, then upon more extensive searching subsequently within the vicuña’s enclosure. It appears that F. hepatica was locally acquired, being the first report of fascioliasis within captive vicuñas in the UK. To develop a better fluke-management plan, regular coprological and malacological surveillance is justified, perhaps with molecular xenomonitoring of snails, alongside prompt administration of appropriate flukicide as required.