What are the prevention and control methods for fascioliasis in cattle and sheep?

Fascioliasis in cattle and sheep is a relatively serious parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica of the family Fasciolidae, genus Fasciola, parasitizing the liver bile ducts of cattle and sheep. This disease can cause acute and chronic hepatitis and cholangitis in cattle and sheep, accompanied by systemic poisoning and nutritional disturbances, leading to decreased production performance in cattle and sheep. In young livestock, it can cause mass death, bringing huge economic losses to the livestock industry. The development of Fasciola hepatica requires freshwater snails as intermediate hosts, so the disease mostly occurs in regional epidemics, with more severe epidemics in rainy seasons and flood-affected areas.

I. Main symptoms

Acute infection mostly occurs in late summer and autumn, and is more common in young sheep. It is caused by severe infection over a short period, with a rapid onset and can cause sudden death of affected animals, but this type is relatively rare. Clinically, it mostly presents as a chronic course. Affected animals gradually become emaciated, with rough hair coat, pale mucous membranes, anemia, reduced appetite, and abnormal rumination, followed by periodic rumen bloating or forestomach atony, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and in the later stage, edema appears under the jaw and chest. Even under good feeding conditions, affected animals gradually lose weight. Female animals may abort or have decreased milk production, and if untreated, it often leads to death.

II. Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be made based on clinical symptoms, epidemiology, and fecal examination for eggs. Confirmation requires finding Fasciola hepatica in the liver bile ducts during necropsy of dead cattle and sheep.

III. Prevention and control measures

(1) In spring and autumn each year, during rainy seasons, and after floods, deworm cattle and sheep once. During the deworming period, feces should be piled up for fermentation treatment. The first choice for deworming is albendazole, at a dosage of 10-15 mg/kg.

(2) Spray a 1:100,000 copper sulfate solution in waterlogged areas such as swamps, ponds, and ditches to kill the intermediate host freshwater snails, or raise poultry to eliminate snails, and try to avoid grazing in places with snails.

(3) Once the disease occurs, western medicines such as albendazole, niclofolan, and triclabendazole can be administered orally. Chinese herbal medicine can also be used: red peony root 22 g, dryopteris crassirhizoma and akebia stem 19 g each, areca seed and gentian 31 g each, oriental waterplantain rhizome 12 g, magnolia bark 16 g, cardamom 13 g, licorice 9 g, decocted in water. For calves and sheep, the dosage is halved.