Countering the impact of liver fluke is an increasing challenge on many farms. Higher rainfall is favouring the parasite’s life cycle and the emergence, in some flocks, of fluke resistant to triclabendazole. There is a range of flukicides available, however, triclabendazole is in many ways the first line of defence being effective against all stages of liver fluke, including early immatures.

Case studies have been set up to intensively monitor fluke infection in several flocks. The initial phase will identify baseline infection and investigate each flock for triclabendazole resistance before testing control strategies mapped out by the farm veterinarians.

Five volunteer farms are working with Donald Armour of Westwards Vets, and with Dalriada Vets in Mid-Argyll. Some of the flocks involved have been previously shown to be affected by triclabendazole resistance, others are of unknown status.

The Livestock Health Scotland project has been set up with the help of John Forster, SAC Campbeltown, and has been designed with the input of the farm vet groups and Philip Skuce, Moredun Research Institute. Laboratory support and analysis will be provided by Moredun.

The first meetings took place on 17 September when initial samples were collected. Samples from two flocks in Mid-Argyll showed the first signs of fluke infection.