Wet summer has caused prevalence of liver fluke disease

The National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) have warned of the prevalence of liver fluke disease in their parasite forecast.

The forecast explains that the large amount of rainfall at the beginning of summer has caused high potential levels for liver fluke disease. NADIS has also warned that liver fluke disease will be very highly prevalent in Great Britain if wet conditions continue into the autumn.

Those areas expected to be worst affected are western England, Wales, the Midlands and most of Scotland.

Liver Fluke is an infection of the the liver largely affecting cattle and sheep, caused by parasites, which thrive during wet weather. NADIS's forecast has been calculated on this basis, assuming the wet weather will remain.

Symptoms of liver fluke include reductions in weight gain, milk yields and fertility, as well as anaemia and diarrhoea. Extreme cases can result in fatality, and overall the disease causes significant losses for farmers.

NADIS encourages farmers to seek a veterinary health plan for individual farms, which considers farm, field and animal histories, along with location.