Sci Parasitol 12(3):173-176, September 2011 ISSN 1582-1366 SHORT RESEARCH NOTE 173 Diagnostic values of clinical, pathological and serologic findings in cattle hypodermosis in Peştişani, Gorj County Romania Florin C. Gorcea 1 , Nicolae Călescu 2 , Călin M. Gherman 3 , Andrei D. Mihalca 3 , Vasile Cozma 3  1 – CSV Peştişani, Gorj, Romania. 2 – CSV Tismana, Gorj, Romania. 3 – University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Manastur street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Correspondence: Tel. +40264596384, Fax +40264593792, E-mail cozmavasile@yahoo.com Abstract. Were examined by clinical examination, by necropsy and by serology 74 cattle – cows (36) and heifers (38) – originating from Peştişani, Gorj slaughtered in a local slaughterhouse in March-May 2008. The prevalence of hypodermosis revealed by clinical examination was 16.21%; necropsy show a 18.91% prevalence, and seroprevalence was 27.27%. The average number of nodules was 6.4/animal and their average size between 12.6 to 34.6 mm/nodule, depending on the time of slaughter. Dorsal abdominal region was the preferential location of nodules. Keywords: Hypoderma sp.; Clinical exam; Necropsy; ELISA; Prevalence. Received 21/07/2011. Accepted 01/09/2011. Introduction Diagnosis of hypodermosis is of primary importance for treatment planning and eradication of disease in affected areas (Boulard et al., 1996; O’Brien, 1998; Otranto et al., 2001). A simple clinical examination of nodules from dorsal and lumbar region in winter and spring seasons provide a reliable diagnosis (Şuteu and Cozma, 2004). However, diagnosis of long-term larval migration phase (up to 5 months) is difficult and impossible by clinical means. In this case, serology and allergic methods are efficent tools. Among serological methods, ELISA from serum or lactoser is the most commonly used (Boulard and Villejoubert, 1991). Necropsy confirms the disease in cattle, allowing highlighting of nodules in slaughtered animals. The present study assessed the comparative diagnosis value of ELISA kits used in our country against hypodermosis compared with clinical examination and necropsy by highlighting and comparing the prevalence obtained by clinical examination and necropsy with seroprevalence. Materials and methods Were examined by clinical examination, by necropsy and by serology 74 cattle – cows (36) and heifers (38) – originating from Peştişani,