Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Due to the reliance of disease transmission on appropriate snail habitats and therefore weather, it has been possible to develop models to predict the occurence of fasciolosis to help its control within flocks and herds. These models evaluate the soil moisture content from May to October by considering rainfall patterns and evapo-transipration, weighted for season. Although June is a particularly influential month in these models, a drought in late summer can reverse predictions of potentially high snail density, and so forecasts should not be issued prematurely. A complicating factor in the prediction of fasciolosis is the fact that snail density is insufficient for disease in the absence of infection (i.e. deposited fluke eggs), and so forecasts generated must be interpreted in the context of local biology.

Several prediction  models have been  developed. They evaluate the wetness of the soil from '''May''' to '''October''' by taking account of rainfall patterns and   evapo-transpiration. Seasonal weighting factors are applied. '''June'''  is a particularly influential month.

'''Anthelmintics'''  

'''Anthelmintics'''  

*Few flukicides kill all parasitic developmental stages

*Few flukicides kill all parasitic developmental stages

'''Alternative  strategies'''  

'''Alternative  strategies'''  

*An ability to recognise and define the  extent of snail habitats allows alternative cost-effective control  options such as fencing and drainage

*An ability to recognise and define the  extent of snail habitats allows alternative cost-effective control  options such as fencing and drainage

If the fuke is present  treat with triclabendazole, which is effective against all stages of  Fasciola hepatica.  Treatment should be applied in September/October and  again in January, if faecal egg count is still postitive.  One may also  treat against adult only stages in May/June, preventing any future  pasture contamination.  However, do not use the same treatment in  September/October as used in May/June, as resistance to drugs is  becoming a real problem within the UK due to overuse.  If it has been a  particularly wet season, it may be necessary to treat again, as Fasciola  hepatica becomes more prevalent under such conditions.

If the fuke is present  treat with triclabendazole, which is effective against all stages of  Fasciola hepatica.  Treatment should be applied in September/October and  again in January, if faecal egg count is still postitive.  One may also  treat against adult only stages in May/June, preventing any future  pasture contamination.  However, do not use the same treatment in  September/October as used in May/June, as resistance to drugs is  becoming a real problem within the UK due to overuse.  If it has been a  particularly wet season, it may be necessary to treat again, as Fasciola  hepatica becomes more prevalent under such conditions.