SQP – CPD Programme As part of AMTRA`s online CPD Programme for livestock SQPs, each month AMTRA will send you the Parasite Forecast which will highlight the parasitic challenge facing livestock in your area for that month. At the end of the Parasite Forecast you will find a series of multiple choice questions (quiz button) based on its contents. Answer the quiz online and you will be emailed a certificate with your score. This will form part of your SQP CPD requirement. The Parasite Forecast has been developed by NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) and is written by leading veterinary parasitologists and based on detailed data from the Met Office. Merial Animal Health is committed to the provision of up-to-date independent knowledge for Animal Health Advisors to enable timely and best practice advice to be given to livestock farmers. As such Merial Animal Health is proud to sponsor NADIS and the Parasite Forecast. Improving sheep and cattle health Supported by NADIS Parasite Forecast – September 2017 Use of meteorological data to predict the prevalence of parasitic diseases Temperature: July 2017 (as °C Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990) Temperature: May - July 2017 (as °C Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990) Rainfall: July 2017 (as % Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990) Rainfall: May – July 2017 (as % Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990) July was an unsettled month with only brief fine spells, starting off warm in the south-east but cool in the north-west. The month ended wet and often quite cool, with some heavy persistent rain at times especially in the south, while in Scotland the weather was mostly bright and showery. The UK mean temperature was 15.1 °C, being slightly warmer than average in the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England, but slightly cooler than average in Scotland. Rainfall was generally above normal, particularly in the south, and many parts of central southern and SE England had over twice the normal amount. September Parasite Forecast/Update The most recent version of this monthly parasite forecast may be accessed at www.nadis.org.uk. LIVER FLUKE FORECASTS • Warm, wet summers create suitable conditions for the fluke life cycle to take place and snail host populations to rapidly increase, leading to a build-up of infective fluke stages by late summer/early autumn. • It is now time to review liver fluke control measures on your farm. Farmers should consult their veterinary Regional Weather (based on Met Office figures) REGIONS 0 N W Scotland 1 E Scotland 2 N E England 3 E Anglia 4 The Midlands 5 S England 6 S W Scotland 7 N W England & N Wales 8 S W England & S Wales 9 N Ireland
Transcript
SQP – CPD Programme
As part of AMTRA`s online CPD Programme for livestock SQPs, each month AMTRA will send you the Parasite Forecast which will highlight the parasitic challenge facing livestock in your area for that month. At the end of the Parasite Forecast you will find a series of multiple choice questions (quiz button) based on its contents. Answer the quiz online and you will be emailed a certificate with your score. This will form part of your SQP CPD requirement. The Parasite Forecast has been developed by NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service) and is written by leading veterinary parasitologists and based on detailed data from the Met Office. Merial Animal Health is committed to the provision of up-to-date independent knowledge for Animal Health Advisors to enable timely and best practice advice to be given to livestock farmers. As such Merial Animal Health is proud to sponsor NADIS and the Parasite Forecast.
Improving sheep and cattle health Supported by
NADIS Parasite Forecast – September 2017
Use of meteorological data to predict the prevalence of parasitic diseases
Temperature: July 2017 (as °C Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990)
Temperature: May - July 2017
(as °C Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990)
Rainfall: July 2017 (as % Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990)
Rainfall: May – July 2017
(as % Above/Below Regional Average 1961-1990)
July was an unsettled month with only brief fine spells, starting off warm in the south-east but cool in the north-west. The month ended wet and often quite cool, with some heavy persistent rain at times especially in the south, while in Scotland the weather was mostly bright and showery. The UK mean temperature was 15.1 °C, being slightly warmer than average in the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England, but slightly cooler than average in Scotland. Rainfall was generally above normal, particularly in the south, and many parts of central southern and SE England had over twice the normal amount.
September Parasite Forecast/Update The most recent version of this monthly parasite forecast may be accessed at www.nadis.org.uk.
LIVER FLUKE FORECASTS • Warm, wet summers create suitable conditions for the
fluke life cycle to take place and snail host
populations to rapidly increase, leading to a build-up of infective fluke stages by late summer/early autumn.
• It is now time to review liver fluke control measures on your farm. Farmers should consult their veterinary
surgeons so that there is a plan in place, and the correct drugs, to prevent liver fluke disease this autumn.
• A UK regional fluke-risk forecast, first developed over 50 years ago, based on summer rainfall and evaporation data, has been issued annually.
• A new NADIS fluke-risk forecast that calculates monthly and cumulative wetness scores for the summer months (May to October) at a more local level is being launched this year.
• The fluke forecast uses data from Met Office Rainfall and Evaporation Calculation System (MORECS) with output to a 40 x 40 km grid covering mainland Britain.
• Based on the cumulative wetness scores for each grid, a fluke risk map can then be produced with high-risk areas appearing red; medium-risk amber; and low-risk green.
• Even within these grid areas, local conditions and individual farm circumstances can vary so contact your vet for further information and advice.
Fluke risk map
Acute Fluke Risk
• The preliminary acute fluke forecast based on regional rainfall in August to October last year, and May and June this year was predicting a low-risk of acute fluke this summer. More detailed analyses of all grid squares now predict that some parts of Scotland, and North Wales are at higher risk (see map).
Chronic Fluke Risk • Rainfall in all regions of the country has been below
average over the winter and spring this year, but the wet June and July has increased the potential fluke-risk this autumn in some regions.
• Based on rainfall data to the end of July there is potential for a “moderate risk” of fluke infection this autumn in parts of Scotland, Wales, NW and SW England, although the situation may change depending on rainfall during August, September and October.
• Central and eastern regions of England are currently forecast to be at low-risk.
• A more accurate prediction of fluke risk will be provided in November when full weather data are available.
Normal liver (left) and chronic liver fluke (right) – develop a liver fluke control plan with your veterinary advisor now; this farmer did not and paid a heavy price.
Normal liver (top) and chronic liver fluke (bottom); flukicide treatment will not repair such severe liver damage. This situation resulted because purchased sheep were not correctly treated for immature flukes.
SHEEP Fluke Control
• Liver fluke disease can be largely controlled by effective drugs administered at the correct time as directed by the farmer’s veterinary surgeon as part of the flock health plan.
• However, evasion strategies should also be adopted wherever possible by not grazing potentially contaminated, poorly-drained areas from late August onwards.
On high-risk farms move sheep from wet pastures where possible from late August
• Sheep with acute fluke may simply be found dead without prior signs of illness therefore it is important to have all sudden deaths investigated to allow immediate preventive measures.
• Post-mortem examination is essential to establish a diagnosis of acute fluke.
Post-mortem examination is essential to establish a diagnosis of acute and subacute liver fluke disease, and other potential causes of sudden death
• Ensure all lambs are vaccinated against clostridial diseases because migrating flukes predispose to Black disease.
• Farms with a known liver fluke problem, especially in parts of West Scotland, should consult their veterinary surgeons about treating sheep against immature flukes in September.
• Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is the drug of choice because it is effective against very young immature flukes, however, advice will also be needed where TCBZ-resistance has been previously suspected on farms.
• The faecal antigen ELISA test can be used to monitor triclabendazole efficacy two to three weeks after dosing and farmers should contact their veterinary practitioner for further advice where drug resistance is suspected.
• Later fluke treatments could use closantel or nitroxynil especially if TCBZ- resistance is suspected/proven on the farm.
• Where closantel and nitroxynil are used to prevent liver fluke disease, accurate dosing is essential. Do NOT drench sheep based upon the heaviest animal in the group as toxicity is possible. Weigh a representative range of sheep and treat according to weight. Be very careful not to accidentally treat sheep twice.
• Flocks with no previous evidence of fluke disease must maintain their farm’s biosecurity especially with respect to purchased sheep.
Migrating flukes predispose to the clostridial disease “black disease”. As well as prophylactic fluke drenching, ensure all lambs are fully vaccinated (twice, one month apart) to prevent clostridial diseases.
Parasitic Gastroenteritis (PGE)
• PGE is likely to become a problem on contaminated grazing in many areas as larval challenge continues.
• Monitor lamb liveweight gain or worm faecal egg counts (FEC) to determine the need for anthelmintic treatments.
Parasitic gastroenteritis affecting fattening lambs is more common following wet weather which enables egg hatching and early larval development.
Quarantine Treatments • September is the month of most sheep breeding stock
sales and quarantine treatments are essential for all introduced stock.
• Quarantine arrangements are essential to reduce the risk of introducing anthelmintic-resistant worms with purchased sheep.
• Current best practice involves sequential full dose treatments with either a 4-AD product (monepantel) or 5-SI (derquantel in combination with abamectin), and injectable moxidectin upon arrival on farm.
• Treat all sheep on arrival and confine for 24-48 hours; then turnout onto pasture recently grazed by sheep.
• Maintain purchased stock in separate groups and monitor closely for disease for at least 30 days before mixing with home flock.
• Liver fluke must also be considered in quarantine treatments.
• Resistance to triclabendazole (TCBZ), appears to be an increasing problem and one that needs managing on all livestock farms.
• Assume that brought-in animals are infected with resistant liver fluke.
• Keep newly arrived animals inside, yarded, or on snail free pastures, away from other livestock, for at least 4 weeks and until quarantine treatments have been completed, the animals have been tested, and results show they are free of infection.
Despite their appearance and absence of diarrhoea, quarantine treatments are essential for replacement rams to reduce the risk of introducing anthelmintic-
resistant worms.
CATTLE Fluke Control • Fluke control in cattle requires both management and
flukicide treatment options, which will depend on prevailing weather conditions, individual farm conditions and varies year to year so consult your vet.
• Evasion strategies should also be adapted wherever possible, by not grazing outwintered cattle on potentially contaminated, poorly-drained areas.
• In high fluke-risk areas, grazing cattle may need to be dosed for fluke with a product with activity against immature fluke.
• Whilst triclabendazole is the most effective against early immature fluke, because acute fluke is rare in cattle, there are several alternatives available, so ask your vet for advice based on local farm conditions and the NADIS fluke forecast.
• If treated, cattle should be moved onto fluke-free pastures as soon as possible.
• There are benefits associated with treating cattle at housing as this will immediately remove the impact of developing and adult flukes on growth and feed efficiency.
• Where this approach is practiced, cattle should be tested later in the housing period for the presence of adult fluke, or given a second treatment to ensure all fluke are removed.
• Identification of fluke eggs in faeces, serum or bulk milk ELISA testing, and slaughterhouse liver reports, are practical methods of detecting fluke-infected herds. A bulk milk tank ELISA test is an effective way to monitor herd exposure to fluke and efficacy of control programmes
• The interval between housing and testing or re-treatment will depend on the product used.
• Very few products can be used in dairy cattle, and veterinary advice should be sort for treatments at
drying off and only considered if there is evidence of fluke infection in the herd.
Ostertagiosis
• Type 1 ostertagiosis presents in growing cattle with profuse diarrhoea suddenly affecting a large percentage of the group.
• Immediate treatment of all cattle in the group is important when first signs of acute profuse diarrhoea appear.
• Outbreaks of ostertagiosis can be prevented by targeted anthelmintic treatments based upon liveweight gain, or anthelmintic treatment based upon faecal worm eggs counts.
Diarrhoea and rapid weight loss caused by type 1 ostertagiosis.
Quarantine Treatments • Unlike the situation with sheep, there are no specific
recommendations for quarantine treatments to prevent the introduction of anthelmintic-resistant worms as resistance is still relatively uncommon.
• If poor 3-ML efficacy against Cooperia spp. is observed, then treatment with either levamisole (2-LV) or a benzimidazole (1-BZ) may be considered.
• As for sheep, assume that brought-in animals are infected with resistant liver fluke.
• The COWS guide to managing liver fluke in bought in cattle involves the three basic principles of HOUSE, TREAT and TEST.
• Keep newly arrived cattle inside, yarded, or on snail free pastures, away from other livestock, for at least 4 weeks and until quarantine treatments have been completed, and test results show they are free of infection
Lungworm • August and September are peak months for lungworm
disease (husk; hoose).
• Adult dairy cattle which have not built up immunity through natural challenge in previous years are also susceptible to lungworm and may show a sudden and dramatic drop in milk yield.
• Any animal showing coughing at rest and an increased breathing rate should be investigated for the presence of lungworm.
• The presence of lungworm larvae in faeces can be readily undertaken by your veterinary practice with results available within 24 hours but note that clinical signs of lungworm may be present before the infection becomes patent.
• Prompt anthelmintic treatment is essential. All available wormers are highly effective against adult lungworms and parasitic larval stages.
