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 productActive substance involved in IMB decision Virbamec superClorsulon Ivomec superClorsulon Flukiver 5 InjectionClosantel ClosamectinClosantel Closiver for cattleClosantel Closamectin Pour onClosantel Trodax 34%Nitroxynil Deldrax 34%Nitroxynil Flukinex 9%Rafoxanide Orafluke 5%Rafoxanide Orafluke 10%Rafoxanide Fluken wormRafoxanide LevaflukeRafoxanide TriazoleRafoxanide Fenafluke 5%Rafoxanide Chan Broad SpecRafoxanide Rafazole Oral Suspension Rafoxanide MEDICINES NOT TO BE ADMINISTERED TO COWS/IN-CALF HEIFERS Name of productActive 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 10Triclabendazole Triclaben 10% for cattle Triclabendazole Tribex 10% for cattleTriclabendazole

MEDICINES THAT CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED WITH STRICT ADHERENCE TO WITHDRAWAL PERIODS INDICATED Name of productActive ingredient Albex 10%Albendazole Albex 2.5%Albendazole Endospec 10% SCAlbendazole Endospec 2.5% SCAlbendazole Keelogane SCAlbendazole Osmonds Flexiben 10% SCAlbendazole Tramazole 10%Albendazole Tramazole 2.5%Albendazole Valbazen 10%Albendazole ZanilOxyclozanide

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 studies Links between fluke and additional diseases Milk Products Three active ingredients under study Triclbendazole Rafoxanide Closantel