In sheep, fasciolosis may present as acute, chronic, or infrequently sub-acute manifestations. Acute fasciolosis usually occurs between September and December and is caused by large numbers of immature ''[[Fasciola hepatica]]'' migrating through the liver parenchyma and causing massive damage. It arises within around two to six weeks of ingestion of metacercariae. If sheep are not exposed to at-risk pasture until later in the year, acute fasciolosis may occur as late as the following Feburary. Hepatic damage caused by migration of fluke larvae gives clinical signs including lethargy, pallor, dyspnoea and death in both young and adult animals. Handling of sheep may cause liver rupture and sudden death, and sudden death may also occur due to Black's disease (''Clostridium novyi'' type B) or bacillary haemoglobinuria (''Clostridium novyi'' type D) in unvaccinated sheep. This is a result of necrosis caused by larval migration within the liver: anaerobis conditions are created, enabling multiplication of clostridial organisms and thus toxin production. | In sheep, fasciolosis may present as acute, chronic, or infrequently sub-acute manifestations. Acute fasciolosis usually occurs between September and December and is caused by large numbers of immature ''[[Fasciola hepatica]]'' migrating through the liver parenchyma and causing massive damage. It arises within around two to six weeks of ingestion of metacercariae. If sheep are not exposed to at-risk pasture until later in the year, acute fasciolosis may occur as late as the following Feburary. Hepatic damage caused by migration of fluke larvae gives clinical signs including lethargy, pallor, dyspnoea and death in both young and adult animals. Handling of sheep may cause liver rupture and sudden death, and sudden death may also occur due to Black's disease (''Clostridium novyi'' type B) or bacillary haemoglobinuria (''Clostridium novyi'' type D) in unvaccinated sheep. This is a result of necrosis caused by larval migration within the liver: anaerobis conditions are created, enabling multiplication of clostridial organisms and thus toxin production. |