Introducing the new lateral flow test for liver fluke – Zoom on 7 November 2024 – 4pm


Things to do at housing

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

  • Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms.
  • There is no natural immunity to liver fluke, so all ages of stock must be assessed for treatment where there is a history, or risk of infection. Check fluke forecasts and abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke
  • Blood test a group of first season grazing calves (as sentinels) two weeks after housing to check whether they have been in contact with liver fluke in the summer

Dairy

  • Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms
  • Take a bulk milk sample to test if the milking herd has been exposed to liver fluke.
  • There is no natural immunity to liver fluke, so all ages of stock must be assessed for treatment where there is a history, or risk of infection. Check fluke forecasts and use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke

Resources

Vet, academic or researcher?

Take a look in Resources for more detailed information on all topics.

29th October 2024

Levels of liver fluke in the UK have been relatively low in recent years. However, after a wet and mild summer and autumn in many areas, forecasts are predicting that 24/25 will buck the trend, resulting in a high liver fluke challenge for some areas.

The temptation for many farmers will be to react to the warnings of a higher liver fluke risk this season by simply resorting to routinely treating with flukicides. However, without a risk assessment and appropriate testing, they cannot know when, or even if, they need to treat their livestock.

We invite you to join COWS and SCOPS to hear about this exciting new tool, a lateral flow test for liver fluke, developed by University of Liverpool and made commercially available by Norbrook. It is also a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge and get up to date ahead of what could be a challenging liver fluke season.

This event is primarily aimed at vets and SQPs although everyone is welcome to join.

Agenda:

  • Introduction from Lesley Stubbings (Chair)
  • Summary of the science behind the testing – Tessa Walsh, University of Liverpool
  • How to use and interpret the LFT – Dan Griffiths, Norbrook
  • Using the LFT in conjunction with other tests – Philip Skuce, Moredun
  • Using the test on farm – Kaz Strycharczuk, Black Sheep Vets
  • Q&A

Register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3B_fQnMVSRq3u5hD0wYVRw