A strategic dosing scheme for the control of fasciolosis in cattle and sheep in Ireland

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a strategic dosing scheme in lowering the incidence of fasciolosis on a mixed dry-stock farm and in maintaining the reduced incidence following a reduction in dosing intensity. Two neighbouring farms with a history of chronic fluke disease were selected, the strategic dosing scheme being implemented on one (the trial farm) while the other (the control farm) continued to treat according to its normal practice. The strategic dosing scheme was designed to suppress the faecal egg output of Fasciola hepatica at critical times of the year in order to limit infection of the intermediate host snail population and thus reduce the subsequent contamination of the pasture with metacercariae. On the trial farm cattle and sheep were treated three times per year for the first 2 years at approximately 8 week intervals, starting in March of each year. A fourth treatment was given when the cattle were housed and out-wintered sheep received an additional treatment in January. In Years 3 and 4 the dosing intensity was reduced. By the end of Year 2, data from faecal egg counts, tracer-sheep fluke burdens and snail infection levels indicated that the treatment strategy had succeeded in suppressing the fluke population and eliminating the occurrence of clinical fasciolosis. The decrease in dosing intensity in Years 3 and 4 maintained both stock and snail infections at low levels and there was no re-emergence of the disease.