Fasciola hepatica infects the liver of cattle and sheep and the incidence of liver fluke increases after a wet summer season.

The disease is estimated to cost the UK cattle industry £23 million per annum due to;

• Liver condemnations

• Poor growth

• Poor lactation

• Poor fertility

Clinical signs of liver fluke include persistent diarrhoea, chronic weight loss and poor body condition score despite an adequate ration. ‘Bottle jaw’ is rarely seen but severe infections may cause anaemia.

Diagnosis

Other cattle diseases have similar symptoms so your vet will also consider;

• Poor nutrition (whole group/herd problem)

• Johne’s disease (several cows in the group/herd)

• Salmonellosis (several cows in the group/herd)

• Parasitic gastroenteritis (whole group/herd problem)

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Liver fluke will be diagnosed in the acute disease stage by raised liver enzymes in blood samples collected by your vet plus signs of chronic fasciolosis with demonstration of fluke eggs in faecal samples. There are specific antibody tests for liver fluke infestation.

Treatment

The following will be used by the vet to treat liver fluke;

• Triclabendazole is effective at killing all stages of flukes.

• Nitroxynil and oxyclosanide can be used in the treatment of chronic fasciolosis (adult flukes) which is the most common problem in cattle.

Treated cattle should be moved to clean pastures wherever possible and improved nutrition of affected cattle is essential. Cattle housed for more than six weeks can be treated with closantel or nitroxynil

Prevention/Control

The following strategy will help to prevent liver fluke.

• Strategic flukicide treatments as detailed in the veterinary herd health plan.

• During low risk years treatment is given to at-risk cattle in January.

• In years when epidemiological data indicate a high risk of fasciolosis, additional triclabendazole treatments may be necessary in October/November.

• Fencing off snail habitats is rarely practicable

• Drainage is cost prohibitive and many properties are subject to environmental controls.

• Control disease in sheep if present on farm.

Welfare implications

Debility, possibly leading to recumbency in heavily-pregnant cows, is a serious welfare concern.

DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR VETERINARY HEALTH PLAN – CONSULT YOUR VET