Liver fluke: Practical diagnosis and treatment in cattle
The Receive Cattle Will Fluke Period During In A Most Ireland Treatment Housing
HERD HEALTH SERIES: Maura Langan, Commercial and Technical Manager (Large Animal) at Norbrook.
Most cattle in Ireland will receive a fluke treatment during the housing period. As pasture contamination increases throughout the summer months, so does the risk to livestock. Housing marks the end point of exposure to new fluke infection and is considered an ideal time to treat.
Cattle do not develop immunity to liver fluke and the resulting damage to the liver and bile ducts can cause permanent scarring resulting in reduced and slower liveweight gain and poor carcase formation in growing cattle. The effect of subclinical liver fluke on breeding stock can also be significant, with studies showing reduced fertility, increased calving intervals and an increase in metabolic diseases post-calving and pre-disposition to Salmonella dublin infection.
Your vet will prescribe based on an assessment of risk at herd level based on their knowledge of the farm, its history, management practices and diagnostics. Because the fluke lifecycle relies on a tiny mud snail, climate conditions are also a factor. Treatment not only addresses the current fluke burden but also helps to control future pasture contamination.
There are a range of different flukicides on the market and they are generally classified according to the stages of fluke they are effective against: early immature (1-5 weeks), late immature (6-9 weeks) and adult (10-12 weeks). For this reason, it is important that the most appropriate product is used at the correct time in the fluke season.
Treatment options for milking cows are limited and vets will be able to advise as to the most practical product choice and timing for individual herds. As always, withdrawal periods should be strictly adhered to. Treatment of youngstock and heifers up the second half of pregnancy with alternative actives such as closantel may be used to reduce anthelmintic pressure in dairy herds and overall reliance on the actives that are licensed for the adult dairy cow.
Norbrook has two closantel-based products marketed for cattle.
Solantel Pour-On is a single-active, pour-on flukicide. Solantel Pour-on contains 200mg/ml closantel and is licensed for the treatment of late immature (>7 weeks) and adult Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) infestations in cattle.
Closamectin Pour On contains 5mg/ml ivermectin and 200mg/ml closantel so combines a broad-spectrum worm and lice treatment with a powerful flukicide. Treatment with Closamectin may be appropriate for cattle that are likely to have acquired a worm burden prior to housing.
Treatment with either product should be timed approximately 7 weeks after cattle are housed to ensure the most effective fluke kill. Where a heavy fluke burden is suspected, or if cattle are close to their finishing weights, then treating at the point of housing may be a more appropriate treatment option. In these cases, a second, follow-up treatment may be required later, allowing at least 10 weeks between doses of closantel-based products.
Visit www.norbrook.com for more information.