| Diagnostic methods | Pros and cons |
| Parasitological methods | |
Diagnosis is based on finding eggs in stools or in bile aspirated from the duodenum.
Passage of eggs can be detected temporarily after a meal with infected liver!
The diagnosis can be confined by serodiagnostic tests when available. | - Parasitological diagnosis is not possible during the long prepatent period
- Sensitivity restricted by variation in egg production (multiple specimens needed)
- Differentiation of Fasciola species difficult due to intraspecific morphological variations of ova
|
| Molecular diagnosis | |
| A PCR-RFLP assay has been developed for the distinction between F. hepatica and F. gigantica. | |
| Antigen detection | |
| No tests developed so far | |
| Antibody detection | |
| The newer serological assays (mainly ELISA formats) use recombinant or purified antigen (e.g. cathepsin L1) | - Sensitivity is high
- Specificity is limited
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