Experimental Infections of Cattle with Fasciola hepatica: The production of an acquired self cure by challenge infection

Abstract

Experiments are described in which calves were given 200 metacercariae and then a challenge infection of 300 metacercariae. When the challenge infection was given 3 weeks after the initial infection a small but insignificant reduction in take was observed. When the challenge infection followed 18 weeks after the initial infection, the existing infection was eliminated. This phenomenon is referred to as an “acquired self cure”.