FLUKICIDES IN IRISH DAIRY HERDS

Determination of the prevalence of Ostertagia ostertagi, Fasciola hepatica and Dictyocaulus viviparus in Irish dairy herds using bulk milk analysis and examination of the impact of

these parasites on the productivity of those herds.

A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF BULK MILK SEROPOSITIVITY TO

FASCIOLA HEPATICA IN A SUBSET OF IRISH DAIRY HERDS

Background

MATERIALS AND METHODS

22 commercial farms (red dots)

7 Teagasc farms (blue dots)

All farms are classified as ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ soil types

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS (contd.)

High

Monthly average S/P ratios across all study herds

RESULTS

Monthly S/P ratios across ‘Dry’ study farms

Monthly S/P ratios across ‘Wet’ study farms

Dosing required earlier than dry period

TRIAL CONCLUSIONS

Liver fluke an issue on a high % of Irish dairy farms

Over 80% of farms were positive for fluke by Nov ‘09

Usefullness of bulk tank milk testing as a screening technique for F. hepatica

No difference in seropositivity between ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ farms.

Zero-milk withdrawal flukicide would prove benificial

BAN ON FLUKICIDES

Only 2 active ingredients remain on the market

Albendazole (Liver Fluke only)Oxyclozanide (Liver and Rumen Fluke)

Will require minimum of 2 doses Third Dose probably required Current efficacy of these products

unknown

MEDICINES NOT TO BE ADMINISTERED TO COWS/IN-CALF HEIFERS

Name of product Active substance involved in IMB decision

Virbamec super Clorsulon

Ivomec super Clorsulon

Flukiver 5 Injection Closantel

Closamectin Closantel

Closiver for cattle Closantel

Closamectin Pour on Closantel

Trodax 34% Nitroxynil

Deldrax 34% Nitroxynil

Flukinex 9% Rafoxanide

Orafluke 5% Rafoxanide

Orafluke 10% Rafoxanide

Fluken worm Rafoxanide

Levafluke Rafoxanide

Triazole Rafoxanide

Fenafluke 5% Rafoxanide

Chan Broad Spec Rafoxanide

Rafazole Oral Suspension

Rafoxanide

MEDICINES NOT TO BE ADMINISTERED TO COWS/IN-CALF

HEIFERS

Name of product Active substance involved in IMB decision

Ridafluke 3% Rafoxanide

Univet Multidose Fluke and Worm

Rafoxanide

Flukex 3% Rafoxanide

Flukex 9% Rafoxanide

Curafluke 5% Rafoxanide

Curafluke 10% Rafoxanide

Panafluke Oral Suspension

Rafoxanide

Fasinex 24% Triclabendazole

Endex 19.5% Triclabendazole

Fasinex 10% Triclabendazole

Fasinex Super 19.5% Triclabendazole

Fasifree 10% Triclabendazole

Endofluke 10 Triclabendazole

Triclaben 10% for cattle

Triclabendazole

Tribex 10% for cattle Triclabendazole

MEDICINES THAT CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED WITH STRICT ADHERENCE TO WITHDRAWAL PERIODS INDICATED

Name of product Active ingredient

Albex 10% Albendazole

Albex 2.5% Albendazole

Endospec 10% SC Albendazole

Endospec 2.5% SC Albendazole

Keelogane SC Albendazole

Osmonds Flexiben 10% SC Albendazole

Tramazole 10% Albendazole

Tramazole 2.5% Albendazole

Valbazen 10% Albendazole

Zanil Oxyclozanide

Issues on farm may lead to illegal use of banned products

Need to promote the impact that illegal use (accidental or otherwise) could have on international markets

Some farmers currently willing to take the risk

BAN ON FLUKICIDES

Unapproved Albendazole products being promoted e.g. Albencare

Misinformation

WORRYING DEVELOPMENTS

LATEST INFORMATION

IMB has set a provisional Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for Closantel

Efforts also being made to set provisional MRLs for Triclabendazole and Nitroxynil

EU permission required Support for these proposals essential

ON-GOING RESEARCH

2 PhD projects

Epidemiological studiesLinks between fluke and additional

diseases

Milk ProductsThree active ingredients under study

TriclbendazoleRafoxanideClosantel