Liver Fluke
Liver fluke disease, or fasciolosis, is caused by the parasite Fasciola hepatica. This parasite primarily affects the liver of sheep and cattle, leading to significant health issues and economic losses. The disease is particularly prevalent in areas with wet and muddy conditions, which are ideal for the intermediate host, the mud snail (Galba truncatula).
Symptoms and Diagnosis 🩺
Symptoms
The severity of liver fluke infection can vary, and the symptoms depend on the stage and intensity of the infection. Here are the main types of fasciolosis and their symptoms:
- Acute Fasciolosis: Rapid weight loss, anaemia (pale eyelids and membranes), sudden death, lethargy, and abdominal pain.
- Sub-acute Fasciolosis: Rapid loss of body condition, poor fleece quality, severe depression, inappetence, weakness, and sometimes death.
- Chronic Fasciolosis: Progressive loss of body condition, poor fleece quality, bottle jaw (swelling below the jaw), and in severe cases, death.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing liver fluke involves several methods:
- Post-mortem Examination: Enlarged liver with bleeding and presence of immature flukes.
- Blood Tests: Elevated liver enzymes and low blood protein levels.
- Faecal Samples: Detection of fluke eggs or using the coproantigen ELISA test for earlier detection.
Treatment 💊
Treating liver fluke effectively requires understanding the age of the flukes and the stage of the disease:
- Acute and Sub-acute Fasciolosis: The only effective treatment is triclabendazole. It's crucial to move treated sheep to clean pasture to prevent reinfection.
- Chronic Fasciolosis: Use alternative flukicides to triclabendazole to avoid resistance. Seek veterinary advice for the best treatment plan.
Prevention 🛡️
Preventing liver fluke involves several strategies:
- Biosecurity: Implement quarantine treatment strategies for bought-in sheep to prevent introducing resistant fluke.
- Pasture Management: Avoid grazing sheep in high-risk areas, and consider drainage to remove snail habitats.
- Strategic Dosing: Use flukicides based on weather forecasts and testing results. Rotate flukicides annually to prevent resistance.
Additional Resources
For more detailed information, you can refer to the AHDB Liver Fluke Control in Grazing Livestock manual and visit scops.org.uk.