Tips for Control of Liver Fluke

Liver fluke disease or fasciolosis is a parasitic disease of grazing animals caused by a flat worm (Fasciola hepatica) and is economically important in cattle, sheep and goats. Depending on the degree of infection, liver fluke may cause a reduced meat production of up to 20% in cattle and up to 30% in sheep, and a reduction in milk production of up to 8% in cows. Fertility can suffer and beef cattle affected by fluke may take an extra 80 days to reach market weights. Losses also occur due to the number of livers condemned in meat plants as up to 50% of livers may be condemned.

Signs that your herd has Fluke

Animals may show a variety of obvious signs such as oedema (dropsy) under the jaw (bottle jaw), anaemia, poor coat condition and lack of appetite. Liver fluke infestation can cause decreased fertility and wool production. However, the animal with weight loss and bottle jaw represents the ‘tip of the iceberg’. Detection of subclinical infection with its adverse effect on growth rate, milk yield and fertility requires diagnostic tests such as blood tests (elevated globulins, low albumins, elevated GGT) and assessment of faecal egg counts.

Top Tips to Control Fluke

• Improve drainage and fence-off wet areas with poor drainage, where possible.
• Take reasonable measures to prevent poaching and avoid grazing ‘flukey areas’ particularly
  when metacercariae are likely to be present.
•  Dose bought-in animals with an appropriate flukicide before introducing to pastures. All bought-in animals
  should be quarantined for at least 4 weeks after arriving on farm – see the AHI Biosecurity Purchasing Stock
  Guidelines for more information on quarantining of newly arrived animals.
• A strategic dose, in early – mid summer, designed to reduce the number of snails becoming infected, is also
  recommended.
• Monitor fluke burdens by using a combination of faecal egg counts, bulk milk ELISA and data
  relating to liver condemnations from the factory. Discuss these results with your vet to ensure your control
  strategy is effective and appropriate.
• Dose animals, where possible, at housing, and if required, again 4-6 weeks after housing – refer to the AHI
  leaflet Parasite Control at Housing for more information on treatment at this time.
• Treatment of dairy cattle is a particular problem. Consider dosing with an authorized product during the dry period.

All information taken from Animalhealthireland.ie