Liver fluke treatment re-introduced by MSD

The flukicide drench ZANIL has been re-introduced into Great Britain by MSD Animal Health as a treatment against chronic liver fluke in cattle and sheep.

One in five British cattle that were sent for slaughter in 2012 had their livers condemned as a result of damage caused by liver fluke, according to the latest figures released by the Food Standards Agency.

Based on the active ingredient oxyclozanide, Zanil is highly effective against the adult fluke responsible for chronic disease and – significantly for dairy farmers - is licensed for use in young, pregnant and lactating animals, with a 72-hour milk withhold period where milk is produced for human consumption.

The rise of liver fluke incidence throughout the UK prompted the NSA and the National Farmers' Union to bring animal health experts and Government officials together to discuss how farmers might be able to work with the constant pressure going forward.

Not only does the disease significantly reduce the performance of livestock, at a huge cost to farmers, but at abattoirs a growing numbers of livers from cattle and sheep are now being rejected from the food chain because of fluke damage. That is removing value from our livestock sector.

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."

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.”

“The latest independent data (¥) confirms that fluke is on the increase in UK cattle and sheep,” says MSD Animal Health veterinary advisor Matt Haslam. “The fluke problem is longstanding, but is being exacerbated by recent wet summer and autumn periods that have created ideal conditions for this parasite to proliferate and infect grazing livestock.

“Chronic liver fluke causes serious economic losses for livestock farmers. In dairy herds, for example, there will be a negative impact on fertility and milk production where cows are affected.

“It is important that farmers have access to the best treatment options given the size of the threat and the scale of potential losses. Zanil is used widely and effectively in Ireland in the control of fluke problems, and there is no known resistance to the active ingredient oxyclozanide. With its re-introduction into the country, we believe Zanil is unique as a flukicide-only treatment that is licensed for use in lactation and in the dry period for the treatment of adult fluke in dairy cows.”

Zanil is an oral drench with POM-VPS authorisation,And is available from animal health suppliers and veterinary practices,Dosage rate is 3ml per 10kg bodyweight in cattle, up to a maximum of 105ml, and 4.5ml per 10kg bodyweight in sheep, up to a maximum of 20ml.