TREMATODA 351 



Family Distomatidje 



(Dtstomum hepaticum, Retz.) Fasciola hepatica, Linn. 

 Liver Fluke 



This parasite was undoubtedly introduced with living sheep, and 

 is not common, nor does it appear to cause loss of stock. It occurs 

 in the livers and bile-ducts of sheep in the Hawke's Bay, Fielding 

 and Nelson districts. Cases were found at Te Hauke in Hawke's 

 Bay in 1897, and again in Waipawa and Te Aute in 1907. The Euro- 

 pean host is a small snail, Lymncea trunculata. This species does not 

 occur in New Zealand, but there are half-a-dozen native species of 

 the genus, and probably one of these is the intermediary host. The 

 presence of fluke was recognised when sheep came to be examined 

 in the freezing works after the passing of the Slaughtering and 

 Inspection Act in 1900. It occasionally occurs in cattle. 



CESTODA 



Family T^niid^ 



Moniezia expansa, Rud. 



In 1902 Dr Gilruth stated that this species was the common 

 tape-worm of the sheep in New Zealand. In 1903 it was stated to 

 be very common, and it was reported that calves were infected with 

 it in several districts. In 1916 Dr Reakes informed me that it was 

 occasionally found in cattle, but was rare and did no harm economic- 

 ally. It was also found in sheep, but he adds "it is not common and 

 probably does little harm. No serious mortality has teen traced to 

 it." It is impossible to say when it was first introduced into the 

 country. Colonel Reid states that it occurs also in goats in New 

 Zealand. 



Moniezia alba, Rud. 



Dr Reakes states that this is occasionally found in cattle on post- 

 mortem examination, but that it is far from common. 



Moniezia planissima, Rud. 



According to Dr Reakes this parasite is occasionally found in 

 cattle and sheep, but is far from common. 



Moniezia filicollis, Rud. 



Colonel Reid states that this species occurs in sheep in New 

 Zealand. 



