Oorsig/Review
Diagnosis of Infection in the Live Animals
To confirm infection in the live animal, dung must be collected
and sent to the veterinarian for tests to determine if there is a
liver fluke infection. The newest tests can identify the infection
early (from 4 weeks after infection), which will be at the time
when the first signs of disease are observed in the case of a
very severe infection
Left: first signs of disease
3. Management ac%on to manage this specific disease can be
proposed condi%on.
3. Action to Manage this Specific Disease can now be Proposed
Disease Distribution: Liver fluke [ Apr 2014 - Mar 2018 ]
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
Estcourt Vet Clinic
As stated in the previous slide, this a disease condi%on that is experienced on an
LIVER FLUKE annual basis, but clinical disease in this case is rela%vely limited to specific months
for this specific geographical area.
efficacy of treatment, if done before and after
As stated previously, this is a disease condition
Liver fluke
treatment.
The plan of acRon will be:
that is experienced on
an annual basis, but clinical
disease in this case is relatively limited to specific
• Blood tests for identifying antibody reaction
months for this specific geographical area.
give a more timely result of infestation, but
• Review the transmission in order to iden%fy when and where this parasite infests the animals. (see graphic
there is still a lag phase between infestation,
The plan of action will be:
illustraRons)
reaction of the immune system and
identification through testing.
• The objec%ve is to beXer prevent or carry out specific early tac%cal treatments to decrease the severe effect of
• Review the transmission in order to identify
this parasite on the liver (needed for most metabolic func%ons of the body) and milk produc%on.
when and where this parasite infests the
• Newer tests which test for an increase in
• On farms where this specific problem is iden%fied as a priority, targeted monitoring must be done through
animals. (see graphic illustrations)
liver-specific enzymes, give an immediate
laboratory tests.
result for new infestations by immature
• The objective is to better prevent or carry out
• The older test, where liver fluke eggs in the dung were iden%fied and counted, was just used to iden%fy the
flukes, which is the initial stage of severe
specific early tactical treatments to decrease
existence and possible extent of the problem, or to evaluate the efficacy of treatment, if done before and aher
liver damage when there is a very high
the severe effect of this parasite on the liver
treatment.
infestation rate.
(needed for most metabolic functions of the
• Blood tests for iden%fying an%body reac%on give a more %mely result of infesta%on, but there is s%ll a lag phase
body) and milk production.
Ongoing disease recording can also be effective
between infesta%on, reac%on of the immune system and iden%fica%on through tes%ng.
to monitor the success obtained by comparing
• On farms where this specific problem is
• Newer tests which test for an increase in liver-specific enzymes, give an immediate result for new infesta%ons by
disease occurrence over different years and
identified as a priority, targeted monitoring
immature flukes, which is the ini%al case of severe liver damage when there is a very high infesta%on rate.
especially during the year in which new or more
•
must be done through laboratory tests.
The older test, where liver fluke eggs in the
dung were identified and counted, was only
used to identify the existence and possible
extent of