[The rabbit as a reservoir host of Fasciola hepatica? (author's transl)].

Following field observations, the ability of Fasciola hepatica to develop in domestic rabbits as compared with sheep was investigated under experimental conditions. The results indicate the development of F. hepatica is impaired in various phases after rabbit passage. Only 4.2 percent of the metacercariae gained after one rabbit passage developed to adult F. hepatica in sheep, whereas the respective percentage after sheep passage was 51.2 percent. It can be calculated that after rabbit passage 4.5 liver flukes develop from 100 F. hepatica eggs as compared with 2,141.3 parasites after sheep passage. The result justify the assumption that rabbits may play only a minor role in the epidemiology of fascioliasis.