FOR ANIMALS. FOR HEALTH. FOR YOU.

LIVER FLUKEDisease caused by liver fluke (fasciolosis) is an increasingly common, economically important parasitic disease of sheep in he UK. The disease is caused by the parasite Fasciola hepatica.

Since around 2001, definite changes have been recorded in the regional prevalence, seasonality and severity of disease caused by fasciolosis infections of UK livestock, with particularly high prevalences following a series of wet years and concurrent spread from traditional fluke areas in western UK to normally drier and fluke-free eastern districts.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Adult flukesin bile ducts

Meanday/nighttemp >100C

Immatureflukes growand migrate in liver tissue

Metacercariae ingested

Eggs hatch (miracidia)

Fluke migrates to bile ducts

Eggs accumulateon pasture

Chronic fluke infection

Acute fluke infection

Time from uptake of metacercariae to fluke eggs in faeces = 10–12 weeks.Minimum time needed for 1 life cycle is 17–19 weeks.

Moist habitat

Moist habitat

Mo

ist

hab

itat

In t

he a

nim

al

In the animal

Cer

cari

aeen

cyst

Life cycle of liver fluke

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Adult flukesin bile ducts

Meanday/nighttemp >100C

Immatureflukes growand migrate in liver parenchyma

Metacercariae ingested

Eggs hatch (miracidia)

Fluke migrates to bile ducts

Eggs accumulateon pasture

Chronic fluke infection

Acute fluke infection

Time from uptake of metacercariae to fluke eggs in faeces = 10–12 weeks.Minimum time needed for 1 life cycle is 17–19 weeks.

Moist habitat

Moist habitat

Mo

ist

hab

itat

In t

he a

nim

al

In the animal

Cer

cari

aeen

cyst

In sheep, diseases seen are:

Acute fasciolosis – caused by migrating flukes, causing liver damage. Some animals die, either due to the direct effects of massive numbers of migrating flukes, or due to clostridial disease triggered by the migrating fluke larvae. It is also an important cause of poor reproductive performance in ewes.

Black disease – is typically associated with migration of immature liver flukes during late summer/early autumn and can affect unvaccinated sheep of all ages. Clinical signs are rarely observed and sheep are simply found dead.

Chronic fasciolosis – caused by the presence of and blood-feeding activity of adult flukes in the bile ducts of the liver. Affected animals are ill thrifty, anorexic, anaemic, have ascites or submandibular oedema (due to hypoproteinaemia) and may die. Most cases are seen during the late winter and spring due to the stage of infection and compounding effects of winter nutritional management. A proportion of the adult flukes that become established in the bile ducts may survive for the lifetime of their hosts. It is therefore not unusual to diagnose chronic fasciolosis as a cause of ill thrift in untreated adult animals throughout the year.

DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Liver fl uke in sheep is becoming a more widespread condition, possibly due to climate change and movement of stock throughout the country. The stages of fl uke which can cause clinical disease are:

Avoidance of high-risk grazing areas at particular times of year is an important control measure for fl uke. Strategic anthelmintic treatment programmes are routinely used for the control of fasciolosis in sheep in high-risk areas of western UK. These programmes generally involve treatments during the early winter targeted at immature fl ukes with the aim of disease prevention, and treatments during the spring with the aim of reducing the level of environmental fl uke egg contamination.

Seasonality of fasciolosis does, however, seem to be changing. Farmers are advised to be vigilant for signs of acute liver fl uke in sheep throughout the year, rather than just in autumn. In 10 years of VIDA data (2002–2011), 69% of acute liver fl uke cases, which can be fatal, were identifi ed in the 4 months from November to February. Mild, wet winters permit the survival of infective metacercariae in suffi cent numbers to pose a disease risk, while wet summers and autumns favour the abundant development of free-living stages of the parasite and its intermediate host, the mud snail.

Fluke stages Clinical disease Typical seasonality

Immature Acute fasciolosis Autumn

Adults Chronic fasciolosis Winter – Spring

Zoetis sheep 15ml drench applicator

CYDECTIN TriclaMox Oral Solution for Sheep

• Contains moxidectin and triclabendazole

• Triclabendazole has the widest spectrum of activity against fl uke

• Moxidectin is a potent and persistent molecule against sheep roundworms

• 15ml drench applicator

• Variable dosing

• Tubing with anti-kink springs

Zoetis SHEEP 5ml Accurus™ Injector

COVEXIN 8 Suspension for Injection

Proven protection against:

• 15ml multi-dose syringe variable 1-5ml

• 2 x 18g 1/2” needles

• Vented draw-off tube

• Operating instructions

Zoetis Cattle and Sheep 5ml BM Injector

Covexin 10 • Protects against 10 key clostridial bacteria• Easy subcutaneous injection • Provides up to 12 months protection

• 5ml bottle-mounted syringe (adjustable 1-5ml)• Sterimatic clear needle guard for 12mm

(1/2”) injection• 3 x Stericap (100 doses per cap)

• Bacterial redwater• Black disease• Blackleg• Braxy• Enterotoxaemia

• Gas gangrene• Haemorrhagic enteritis• Lamb dysentery• Pulpy kidney• Tetanus

Sheep 5ml BM InjectorZoetis Cattle and Sheep 5ml BM Injector

Protects against 10 key clostridial bacteria••

Pulpy kidney

Product information: CYDECTIN TRICLAMOX 1 MG/ML + 50 MG/ML ORAL SOLUTION FOR SHEEP contains moxidectin and triclabendazole. For the treatment of mixed nematode and fl uke infections in sheep, caused by moxidectin and triclabendazole sensitive parasites in sheep. POM-VPS 3-ML COVEXIN 8 FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE contains C. perfringens Type B & C (ß) toxoid,

C. perfringens Type D (ε) toxoid, C. haemolyticum, C. chauvoei whole culture, C. novyi Type B toxoid, C. septicum toxoid and C. tetani toxoid. For the active immunisation of sheep/cattle from 2 weeks of age against disease associated with infections caused by the above bacterium. POM-VPS COVEXIN 10 FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE contains C. perfringens type A toxoid, C. perfringens type B & C (ß) toxoid, C. perfringens type D toxoid (ε), C. chauvoei whole culture, C. novyi toxoid, C. septicum toxoid, C. tetani toxoid, C. sordellii toxoid, C. haemolyticum toxoid. For the active immunisation of sheep/cattle from 2 weeks of age against disease associated with infections caused by the above bacterium. POM-VPS

For further information please see the product’s SPC or contact Zoetis UK Limited, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS. www.zoetis.co.uk. Customer Support: 0845 300 8034.

Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). Date of preparation: April 2016 AH086/16