Liver fluke on increase as higher rainfall levels raise infection risk

THE risk of liver fluke is high in all areas of the country except for the east and south-east where the risk is moderate, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Liver Fluke Advisory Group said the higher than normal rainfall in June and September had raised the risk of infection. Further analysis is based on weather data collected during the summer and autumn at Met Éireann weather stations across the country.

Department officials yesterday advised that all bought-in cattle and sheep should be kept isolated and dosed sequentially with a combination of two anthelmintics with different modes of action — eg a macrocyclic lactone and levamisole or monepantal and a flukicide before being allowed to join the main herd or flock.