Liver fluke

Description

Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a parasite that can infect a broad range of host, including humans and ruminants. Final hosts in which sexual maturity can occur include livestock such as sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, goats, alpacas and deer.

Different forms of infections occur in ruminants. The chronic form is rarely fatal in cattle but often fatal in sheep while the subacute or acute form seen primarily in sheep is often fatal and can occur in conjunction with “black disease” (caused by Clostridium novyi type B infection).

Clinical signs vary in severity from distended, painful abdomen and anaemia (acute form) to illthrift, submandibular oedema and reduced productivity (chronic form).

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical history, serology, faecal antigen, faecal egg count, response to treatment and post-mortem examination in the field.

Tests available

Code	Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹	Species
^FASC_EL_BL	Liver Fluke ELISA – Blood (individual)	Clotted blood	Thursday and Friday	Up to 7D	Bovine, Ovine
^FASC_EL_PL	Liver Fluke ELISA – (pool of 5)²	Clotted blood (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Thursday and Friday	Up to 7D	Bovine, Ovine
^FASC_POOL	Liver Fluke ELISA – pooling fee (per pool)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
^FASC_EL_MK	Liver Fluke ELISA – Milk	Milk	Thursday and Friday	Up to 7D	Bovine
^FASC_AGEL	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - individual⁴	10g faeces per animal (Individual testing)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine
^FASC_EL_2	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - pooled (2 pools of 5 samples)	10g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Ovine ONLY
^FASC_EL_5	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - pooled (5 pools of 2 samples)	10g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine
^FLUKE_QUAL	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- Individual testing (Not export) (presence/absence)	20g faeces per animal (Individual testing)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine
^FLU_QUAL_2	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- 2 pools of 5 samples (presence/absence)	20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine
^FLU_QUAL_5	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- 5 pools of 2 samples (presence/absence)	20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine
^FEC_FLUKE	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- Individual testing- (Not export)	20g faeces per animal (Individual testing)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid
^WT_FLUKE_2	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- 2 pools of 5 samples	20g faeces per animal submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid
^WT_FLUKE_5	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- 5 pools of 2 samples	20g faeces per animal (submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab)	Monday - Friday	3-5D	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid
^FEC_FLU_WA	Fluke (Liver) Egg Count (inter-state movement to WA)	20g Faeces per animal- MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly with ID.	Monday - Friday	1-19 samples= 1-2W⁴ 20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges. We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date.	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine
^FEC_FLU_IN	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Egg Count (international exports)⁴ Reported as positive or negative for export purposes.	20g Faeces per animal- MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly with ID.	Monday - Friday	1-19 samples= 1-2W⁴ 20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges. We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, export date and the required reporting date.	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine
^VARIOUS	Fluke/Parasitology Express testing- Note: This charge applies to each sample	N/A	N/A	If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges. We will need the following information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date.	N/A

¹ Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.
²Please clearly specify on the submission form if samples are to be pooled.
³ This test is not NATA accredited.

⁴1-2 weeks notice required before submitting samples

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Blood (without anti-coagulant)
10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) from affected animals and their cohorts Collected into a plain red top tube. Submit chilled
Faeces
10-20g of faeces (Refer to each test for specific amounts) from each of at least ten animals in the flock or herd previously diagnosed with liver fluke and treated in the previous five months. Clearly label samples to identify animal ID's. All pooling will occur in the lab if requested. Submit chilled
Milk
Milk from affected animals and their cohorts Submit chilled

Note

Faecal samples may be tested individually or pooled in groups of up to five samples (With the exception of certain tests that stipulate only certain species). Pooling reduces costs. Submitters should nominate if they wish the samples to be tested in pools. If pooling is not requested, the laboratory will test the individual samples.

The antibody ELISA is available for the detection of infection with both immature and adult fluke. Titres appear 6-8 weeks (cattle) or 4-6 weeks (sheep) after infection and remain high for at least 12 weeks after the infection has been removed. Antibodies remain high in untreated subacute and chronic stages. The false negative rate is low in both cattle (2.5%) and sheep (nil). The test is not suitable for other species.

The antibody ELISA is the only diagnostic method for the detection of acute and subacute fascioliasis, which typically occurs in NSW from autumn to early winter and in late spring.

NSW DPIRD recommends that ten animals be bled and a pooled fluke ELISA requested for herd diagnosis. The samples will be tested as two pools of five samples in the laboratory.

Antibody ELISA is more sensitive than faecal egg counts for the detection of chronic fascioliasis in both cattle (30% more infected animals detected) and sheep (15-20% more infected animals detected).

Faecal egg counts are only of value in chronic fascioliasis where fluke eggs are being excreted (patent infection); they are of no value in acute and subacute infections.

Liver Fluke Fact Sheet- cattle and sheep

See the fact sheet: Liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Parasitology Submission Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568