Fluke treatments in cattle

[M-J-G]

I was at a talk given by the royal dick vet school / the college / and the moredun research on the same subject.

Fecal samples don't show fluke until there's adults shedding. By this time there's already damage.

The life cycle takes up to six weeks from picking up a cyst on the grass, to adult fluke. Therfore treating a month after housing is too soon, unless you treat them again?

A flukicide doesn't stop egg production immediately, unlike anthelmintics for other parasites. Fluke infected animals will still excrete larvae onto pasture for mud snails to become infected.

Therfore, to break the cycle, you need to move the stock onto ground that has no snails. The issue now is the changed climate means the snails are everywhere.

What can be done with out wintered livestock is to dose them in the autumn when they are infected with cysts, immature and adult fluke. Then move them to a field which has not been grazed all summer (such as a silage field).

With not being grazed, the livestock will not have excreted larvae to infect the snails. Therfore the snails won't have been host to generate the cysts that attach themselves to grass, which livestock graze, and start the cycle again.

For fluke infected livestock infected with resistant larvae, the only solution is treat with something like flukiver that has no known resistance (yet), but which only kills adults. Then move the livestock indoors, or to ground that cannot contain any cysts from never having been grazed since the previous autumn, then treating again in six weeks time.

Always dose to the heaviest weight in the batch.

Most of that I can agree with apart from;
Not always having to wait 6 weeks post housing to treat, it can be down to 2 weeks.
Fluke infected animals excrete eggs only as opposed to larvae.
A silage field always won't be any clearer of fluke cysts than any other field unless it is very dry and/or it hasn't had stock on it the previous winter, a spring/summer without stock won't clear fluke as the snails are often infected from April/May onwards from eggs shed and lay un-hatched during the Winter and Spring even if the stock aren't present. After all Fluke would be easily eradicated if resting land for a few months would allow it to be clear!

 

[M-J-G]

Walterp's Rule of Farming #465 - there's nothing like a dead cow to prove that you've got a fluke problem.

A local seminar on cattle fluke was packed to the rafters, to hear the UK's leading expert (Dr Philip Skuse) explain more about what looks to be a permanent problem - damp Summers and mild Winters mean all grazed livestock are at risk of dropping down dead, when fluke mature inside the bovine host.

Our vet confirms this, and suggests treatment every 3 months if cattle go outside all year round. Don't bother FEC testing - it's so bad, you should assume it's already on your holding and go look for your auto injector.

He's right, isn't he?

When you take into account how thin and run down a cow is by the time she will expire due to anemia caused by fluke infestation, there should be a sign or two before she kicked the bucket. I mean, does she really have to die to prove that she has Fluke?

There is perhaps more of a problem with the eyesight of the stockperson than with fluke.

 

[choochter]

I had 2 cattle dung tested because I thought their calves should be doing better than they were.
Both tested +ve for liver fluke so whole herd treated.

 

[Gilchro]

I know the thread is on treatment but treatment is a bit horse/stable door esque and if resistance continues to develop, eventually redundant.
Should we not be looking at prevention measures. From reading behind it, ducks are a primary predator of the mud snail. Would creating a flighting pond and encouraging ducks not be a better long term bet and you could even get a few quid for shooting on the pond.

 

[gone up the hill]

Wrong.

It takes up to six weeks for fluke to mature into adults.

I wont argue BUT every vet I have talked to on the best time to drench cattle for immature fluke is two weeks after they are housed/ and in the case of bought in animals two weeks after you buy and house them and have never had any problems with fluke in these cattle following that policy... ( and I push my cattle hard so if they had fluke issues it would soon show up!!!! )

 

[Walterp]

When you take into account how thin and run down a cow is by the time she will expire due to anemia caused by fluke infestation, there should be a sign or two before she kicked the bucket. I mean, does she really have to die to prove that she has Fluke?

There is perhaps more of a problem with the eyesight of the stockperson than with fluke.

In fact, just like sheep, cattle infected with fluke can die much quicker than you can treat them - the major cause of death isn't relatively slow anaemia but the pretty quick dispersal of the mature fluke from the bile duct. Signs like bottle jaw, anaemia, etc don't always present in cattle as clearly as they might in sheep, and cattle can die just as quick.

Hence, the test for fluke isn't visual.

It also explains why fluke causes such widespread losses, now that it has spread.

 

[z.man]

In fact, just like sheep, cattle infected with fluke can die much quicker than you can treat them - the major cause of death isn't relatively slow anaemia but the pretty quick dispersal of the mature fluke from the bile duct. Signs like bottle jaw, anaemia, etc don't always present in cattle as clearly as they might in sheep, and cattle can die just as quick.

Hence, the test for fluke isn't visual.

It also explains why fluke causes such widespread losses, now that it has spread.

acute fluke is becoming more prevalent and as you say very little signs, unlike the more usual signs of a cronic fluke case

 

[M-J-G]

In fact, just like sheep, cattle infected with fluke can die much quicker than you can treat them - the major cause of death isn't relatively slow anaemia but the pretty quick dispersal of the mature fluke from the bile duct. Signs like bottle jaw, anaemia, etc don't always present in cattle as clearly as they might in sheep, and cattle can die just as quick.

Hence, the test for fluke isn't visual.

It also explains why fluke causes such widespread losses, now that it has spread.

The Adults don't disperse from the bile duct, they migrate through the liver to the and end up in the Bile Duct and stay there so that the eggs can be carried into the animals gut along with bile.

If the animals don't die of anaemia, what do they die of?

I'm interested to hear how many on here have found cattle dead with fluke that had no prior signs?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

The Adults don't disperse from the bile duct, they migrate through the liver to the and end up in the Bile Duct and stay there so that the eggs can be carried into the animals gut along with bile.

If the animals don't die of anaemia, what do they die of?

I'm interested to hear how many on here have found cattle dead with fluke that had no prior signs?

Not sure if cattle are as prone to it as sheep, but in sheep you can lose good fat ewes that were fine 1 day and dead the next. This is caused when large numbers of larvae are injested and a mass migration through the liver causes them to die from internal bleeding. I lost 13 good ewes in a few weeks like this. Opened them up and abdomen full of blood. Only been drenched (with fasinex) about 6 weeks before.

 

[Walterp]

The Adults don't disperse from the bile duct, they migrate through the liver to the and end up in the Bile Duct and stay there so that the eggs can be carried into the animals gut along with bile.

If the animals don't die of anaemia, what do they die of?

I'm interested to hear how many on here have found cattle dead with fluke that had no prior signs?

I suspect you're thinking of chronic fluke, when acute cases are more dangerous (and much quicker to cause death); in chronic fluke the mature fluke lay eggs, which pass through the gut and are excreted.

But in acute cases, the adult fluke migrate from the bile duct, where they've been living, into the liver, causing massive damage and death. The cattle don't die of anaemia, but of their liver being shredded by this process of migration from the bile duct into the liver.

The entire process takes only a few weeks, so there isn't really the opportunity to do much in the way of treatment (Trodax is the drug of choice around here, but it's not guaranteed efficacious) which is why regular dosing is now being advised.

How bad? Fifty percent of UK cattle are now reckoned to be affected.

 

[sheepwise]

I suspect you're thinking of chronic fluke, when acute cases are more dangerous (and much quicker to cause death); in chronic fluke the mature fluke lay eggs, which pass through the gut and are excreted.

But in acute cases, the adult fluke migrate from the bile duct, where they've been living, into the liver, causing massive damage and death. The cattle don't die of anaemia, but of their liver being shredded by this process of migration from the bile duct into the liver.

The entire process takes only a few weeks, so there isn't really the opportunity to do much in the way of treatment (Trodax is the drug of choice around here, but it's not guaranteed efficacious) which is why regular dosing is now being advised.

How bad? Fifty percent of UK cattle are now reckoned to be affected.

Your not quite right there Walterp. Acute fluke is caused by large numbers of immature fluke migrating through the liver to get to the bile ducts where they remain as egg laying adults and from there may cause chronic fluke.Your symptoms of acute fluke are correct though ie.sudden death although acute fluke is less common in cattle than sheep.

 

[Jock]

Did all our cattle for first time last year.
Not doing them this year though as I think the risk is a lot lower and resistance is surely not far away with such widespread use of the limited actives.

 

[Walterp]

Your not quite right there Walterp. Acute fluke is caused by large numbers of immature fluke migrating through the liver to get to the bile ducts where they remain as egg laying adults and from there may cause chronic fluke.Your symptoms of acute fluke are correct though ie.sudden death although acute fluke is less common in cattle than sheep.

I'm not a vet, just going by what HCC been describing the development of the disease.

However, I looked it up subsequently and all the sources say that the adult fluke reside in the bile duct, and it's the adults' migration that kills (in acute cases) from the bile duct to the liver. It explains why acute fluke kills so quickly.

Here's one link, but they all describe the same process. This link has the best photos, though.


https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQFjAB&url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm089&ei=KwGpUpzZB4Wy7Abz14CgBg&usg=AFQjCNHVBwRvlD3VMmLDM8M-6B7dir6hDw&sig2=XfmFBMdtsOCZ1Rtv-FLwsw&bvm=bv.57967247,d.ZGU

 

[chewdles]

loose dung with bubbles in it can also be a sign of fluke burden.my understanding of fluke is it takes 12 weeks for fluke to mature and that trodax kills adult and late immature fluke and you must wait 6 weeks after housing for all flukes to get to these stages.

here is a bit more information if its any help http://www.animalhealthireland.ie/ckfinder/userfiles/files/20130517 PC LiverFluke Ver 2_0.pdf

 

[M-J-G]

I'm not a vet, just going by what HCC been describing the development of the disease.

However, I looked it up subsequently and all the sources say that the adult fluke reside in the bile duct, and it's the adults' migration that kills (in acute cases) from the bile duct to the liver. It explains why acute fluke kills so quickly.

Here's one link, but they all describe the same process. This link has the best photos, though.


https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQFjAB&url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vm089&ei=KwGpUpzZB4Wy7Abz14CgBg&usg=AFQjCNHVBwRvlD3VMmLDM8M-6B7dir6hDw&sig2=XfmFBMdtsOCZ1Rtv-FLwsw&bvm=bv.57967247,d.ZGU

I can't see where it says anything about a mass migration of adult fluke from the Bile Duct through the liver killing any cattle without any prior sign and also haven't heard of it which is why I have asked who on here has witnessed such a thing.

Have heard of plenty sudden deaths in sheep due to them having a smaller liver and blood supply for the Fluke to carve up and feast on, but not cattle. Hence why cattle get run down before they would just die!

 

[llamedos]

Immature fluke migrating through the liver causes Acute Fluke, and as @martin gribbon says it is rare in Cattle

 

[ajcc]

loose dung with bubbles in it can also be a sign of fluke burden.my understanding of fluke is it takes 12 weeks for fluke to mature and that trodax kills adult and late immature fluke and you must wait 6 weeks after housing for all flukes to get to these stages.

here is a bit more information if its any help http://www.animalhealthireland.ie/ckfinder/userfiles/files/20130517 PC LiverFluke Ver 2_0.pdf

I just poured closamectin on outwintered cows this week, cos v.loose dung with bubbles and not looking as fit as they ought. I'm a dry farm, if I am getting it, everyone is susceptible this Autumn.

 

[le bon paysan]

The Adults don't disperse from the bile duct, they migrate through the liver to the and end up in the Bile Duct and stay there so that the eggs can be carried into the animals gut along with bile.

If the animals don't die of anaemia, what do they die of?

I'm interested to hear how many on here have found cattle dead with fluke that had no prior signs?

I would hang my head in shame if a cow of mine died of Fluke infection.
Paramphistome (rumen fluke) is a much faster killer than Liver Fluke but I would be just as embarrassed.

 

[le bon paysan]

loose dung with bubbles in it can also be a sign of fluke burden.my understanding of fluke is it takes 12 weeks for fluke to mature and that trodax kills adult and late immature fluke and you must wait 6 weeks after housing for all flukes to get to these stages.

here is a bit more information if its any help http://www.animalhealthireland.ie/ckfinder/userfiles/files/20130517 PC LiverFluke Ver 2_0.pdf

I always think that Loose dung with bubbles is a sign of Johnes disease

 

[choochter]

I always think that Loose dung with bubbles is a sign of Johnes disease

That's what I understood as well.