A pilot project aimed at preventing and controlling liver fluke in sheep and cattle is being backed by the Scottish Government.
The disease causes severe liver damage and death, especially in sheep, and is spreading across Scotland.
Different ways of preventing and controlling the disease in sheep will be tested on Kinaldy Farm in Fife by experts from Scotland’s Rural College and the Moredun Research Institute, with backing from the Scottish Government’s Veterinary and Advisory Services Programme.
The results will then be passed on to farmers and vets across Scotland, to help them find the best way of protecting livestock according to their circumstances.
Speaking at an industry seminar on liver fluke Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Sheila Voas, said:
“Liver fluke is a serious condition which appears to be on the increase, spreading across Scotland into previously fluke-free areas. There is also evidence that it is becoming resistant to drugs commonly used to treat the disease, which is why it is so important we establish the best ways of preventing and controlling its spread.
“I urge famers, including those in areas previously thought as fluke-free, to consult with their vets to establish prevention and control measures if they have not done so already.”
Professor Jill Thomson, Veterinary Manager at Scotland’s Rural College, said:
“This summer season has seen a high prevalence of liver fluke in all ages of sheep submitted for post-mortem examination. A worrying trend has been the appearance of clinical fluke problems as early as June whereas historically, it has been a problem for farms from late-summer onwards. Information on these changing trends is vital for effective health planning purposes.”
Dr Philip Skuce, Senior Research Scientist at the Moredun Research Institute said:
“Given the very wet summer of 2012, last year proved to be an extremely bad year for fluke. Although the summer of 2013 has been hotter and drier than last year, we would advise farmers to remain vigilant to the threat of fluke as we are still living with the aftermath of last year’s exceptional fluke season.”
Liver fluke is a parasitic disease of ruminants traditionally associated with the wetter West Coast of Scotland. In its chronic form it causes severe losses though poor performance, but in acute form, particularly in sheep, can cause significant mortality.
Its cycle involves a mud snail as intermediate host, and recent wet summers and mild winters have facilitated an increase in prevalence of the disease, accompanied by the spread of the parasite to previously unaffected areas of Scotland.
The pilot project involves the designation of different fields at Kinaldy Farm as low or high risk for the transmission of liver fluke. Groups of sheep and lambs clear of the parasite will be placed in different fields and tested at regular intervals to determine how effective different prevention and control measures are at protecting them from the parasite.
Any lessons learned will be publicised to help farmers and veterinary surgeons to establish the most appropriate measures for them according to their circumstances.
The Scottish Government funds its share of the project through the Veterinary and Advisory Services Programme, with a total budget of £6.9 million in 2013-14.
