Preventing the consequences of livestock liver fluke infection

Collaborative research between the University of Liverpool (UoL) and industrial partner GADx (previously Mologic Ltd), led by Professor Diana Williams, has developed a pen-side test to diagnose liver fluke in livestock. GADx’s expertise is in rapid diagnostic technology for the agricultural sector; they also assisted UoL with commercialisation. The test is now available through Norbrook.

Liver fluke is a parasitic infection that affects several species, including sheep, cattle, and humans. In ruminants, it causes anaemia, lethargy, and weight loss. Diagnosis is difficult, with many infections presenting as asymptomatic until sudden death. This leads many farmers to use flukicides without testing as prevention, raising the risk of resistance. It is estimated that liver fluke costs the UK beef industry £8 to £9.5 million a year in productivity losses.

The test is a rapid lateral flow test based on UoL’s existing diagnostic technology. It uses a drop of blood taken from the ear of potentially infected animals, giving results in only 10 minutes. Traditional testing requires lab analysis, which includes a wait time of over a week.

This test enables faster detection and treatment of infected animals, which:

• enables farmers to specifically target treatment when animals become infected
• prevents overtreatment, therefore slowing flukicide resistance development
• improves animal health and welfare
• reduces costly production losses

Funding from the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board and BBSRC via the Endemic Livestock Disease Systems programme, Follow-on Fund (FOF), FOF Pathfinder, and Impact Acceleration Account supported the research.