Liver fluke

Description

Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a parasite that can infect a broad range of host, including humans and ruminants. Final hosts in which sexual maturity can occur include livestock such as sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, goats, alpacas and deer.

Different forms of infections occur in ruminants. The chronic form is rarely fatal in cattle but often fatal in sheep while the subacute or acute form seen primarily in sheep is often fatal and can occur in conjunction with “black disease” (caused by Clostridium novyi type B infection).

Clinical signs vary in severity from distended, painful abdomen and anaemia (acute form) to illthrift, submandibular oedema and reduced productivity (chronic form).

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical history, serology, faecal antigen, faecal egg count, response to treatment and post-mortem examination in the field.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
EXPRESS_WA	Express Parasitology Testing	N/A	Various	Express TAT- Contact Customer Service to discuss	$55.00	Express Parasitology Testing- applies to each sample requiring express testing.
FLUKE_QUAL, F_QUAL_INC	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- Individual testing (Not export) (presence/absence)	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal (Individual testing) Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine	3-5D	$40.50	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. This test is not to be used for export purposes. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FLU_2_FLAG	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- 2 pools of 5 samples (presence/absence)	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal (Individual samples, pooled testing completed in the lab) Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Any requested pooling will occur (If suitable) in the lab if requested. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid	3-5D	$63.20	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FLU_5_FLAG	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Detection- 5 pools of 2 samples (presence/absence)	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal (Individual samples, pooled testing completed in the lab) Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Any requested pooling will occur (If suitable) in the lab if requested. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid	3-5D	$104.50	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FEC_FLUKE, F_QUAN_INC	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- Individual testing- (Not export)	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal (submitted individually) Individual testing- Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine	3-5D	$52.70	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. This test is not to be used for export purposes. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
WT_FLUKE_2	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- 2 pools of 5 samples	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal submitted individually, (pooled testing in the lab) Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Any requested pooling will occur (If suitable) in the lab if requested. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	3-5D	$101.75	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
WT_FLUKE_5	Fluke Egg Count (Liver/Stomach)- 5 pools of 2 samples	Faeces: 20g faeces per animal submitted individually, (pooled testing in the lab) Clearly label samples individually to identify animal ID's. Any requested pooling will occur (If suitable) in the lab if requested. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	3-5D	$181.40	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FEC_FLU_WA	Fluke (Liver) Egg Count (inter-state movement to WA)	Faeces: 20g Faeces for Cattle Submissions; 10g for Sheep, Goat & Alpaca/Llama Submissions MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly. Provide individual (unique) ID for each animal (sample). I.e. chip number, ear tag, brand for identification at the border in the key list We will need the following CRITICAL information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date. A Veterinarian or Authorised person must collect and submit samples for testing as per the WA DPIRD Guidelines- Importing livestock into Western Australia \| Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine and Camelid	1-19 samples= 1-2W⁴ 20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges.	$68.20	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. KEY-LIST INFORMATION: For submissions with > 10 samples an electronic Key List must be used – Contact Customer Service with your submission information via PHONE: 1800 675 623 EMAIL: laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au	Monday- Friday
FEC_FLU_IN	Fluke (Liver/Stomach) Egg Count (international exports)	Faeces: 20g Faeces for Horse & Cattle Submissions; 10g for Sheep, Goat & Alpaca/Llama Submissions MUST be submitted individually and labelled clearly. Provide individual (unique) ID for each animal (sample). I.e. chip number, ear tag, brand for identification at the border in the key list We will need the following CRITICAL information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date. A Veterinarian must collect and submit samples for export testing to comply with International Quarantine Standards.	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Camelid and Equine	1-19 samples= 1-2W⁴ 20+ samples- Lab to confirm TAT If express testing is required, please call and discuss with Customer Service BEFORE samples arrive. Anything less than 5 days will incur express test charges.	$78.00	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. KEY-LIST INFORMATION: For INTERNATIONAL LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS or submissions with > 10 samples an electronic Key List must be used – Contact Customer Service with your submission information via PHONE: 1800 675 623 EMAIL: laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au Reported as positive or negative for export purposes.	Monday- Friday
FASC_AGEL	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - individual	Faeces: 10-20g faeces per animal (Individual testing) Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	3-5D	$42.40	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FASC_EL_2	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - pooled (2 pools of 5 samples)	Faeces: 10-20g faeces per animal (Submitted Individually, pooled testing in the lab) Submit chilled	Ovine ONLY	3-5D	$62.80	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FASC_EL_5	Liver Fluke Antigen ELISA - pooled (5 pools of 2 samples)	Faeces: 10-20g faeces per animal (Submitted Individually, pooled testing in the lab) Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	3-5D	$109.90	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Please Note: As per our Terms and Conditions, the report for this testing will be provided to the Local Land Service in your region.	Monday- Friday
FASC_EL_BL	Liver Fluke ELISA – Blood (individual)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) from affected animals and their cohorts Collected into a plain red top tube. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	Up to 7D	$29.85	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Batch tested Thursday and Friday
FASC_EL_PL	Liver Fluke ELISA – Blood (pool of 5)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10 ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) from affected animals and their cohorts Submitted individually, pooled testing in the lab Collected into a plain red top tube. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine	Up to 7D	$29.85	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Samples to be submitted individually, the lab will then pool the samples for testing.	Batch tested Thursday and Friday
FASC_POOL	Liver Fluke ELISA – pooling fee (per pool)	N/A	N/A	N/A	$7.45	This is the pooling fee (per pool) for pooling samples for liver fluke ELISA.	N/A
FASC_EL_MK	Liver Fluke ELISA – Milk	Milk Milk from affected animals and their cohorts Submit chilled Individual or bovine bulk milk tank samples only. In-lab pooling not available	Bovine	Up to 7D	$29.85	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Batch tested Friday
FLUKE_WA_H	Fluke (Liver) Egg Count for HORSES (inter-state movement to WA)	Faeces: 2 x individual 20g Faecal samples per horse and submitted in the same submission Note: MUST be submitted individually and samples MUST be labelled clearly with ID (Horse name + Microchip number/Unique identifier + Gender) We will need the following CRITICAL information: number of samples, sample collection date, date samples will be submitted to the lab, border crossing date and the required reporting date. A Veterinarian or Authorised person must collect and submit samples for testing as per the WA DPIRD Guidelines- Importing livestock into Western Australia \| Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development	Equine	2-3 working days	$127.30	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. KEY-LIST INFORMATION: For submissions with > 10 samples an electronic Key List must be used – Contact Customer Service with your submission information via PHONE: 1800 675 623 EMAIL: laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au	Monday - Friday

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Faeces
10-20g of faeces (Refer to each test for specific amounts) from each of at least ten animals in the flock or herd previously diagnosed with liver fluke and treated in the previous five months. Clearly label samples to identify animal ID's. All pooling will occur in the lab if requested. Submit chilled

Note

Faecal samples may be tested individually or pooled in groups of up to five samples (With the exception of certain tests that stipulate only certain species). Pooling reduces costs. Submitters should nominate if they wish the samples to be tested in pools. If pooling is not requested, the laboratory will test the individual samples.

The antibody ELISA is available for the detection of infection with both immature and adult fluke. Titres appear 6-8 weeks (cattle) or 4-6 weeks (sheep) after infection and remain high for at least 12 weeks after the infection has been removed. Antibodies remain high in untreated subacute and chronic stages. The false negative rate is low in both cattle (2.5%) and sheep (nil). The test is not suitable for other species.

The antibody ELISA is the only diagnostic method for the detection of acute and subacute fascioliasis, which typically occurs in NSW from autumn to early winter and in late spring.

NSW DPIRD recommends that ten animals be bled and a pooled fluke ELISA requested for herd diagnosis. The samples will be tested as two pools of five samples in the laboratory.

Antibody ELISA is more sensitive than faecal egg counts for the detection of chronic fascioliasis in both cattle (30% more infected animals detected) and sheep (15-20% more infected animals detected).

Faecal egg counts are only of value in chronic fascioliasis where fluke eggs are being excreted (patent infection); they are of no value in acute and subacute infections.

Liver Fluke Fact Sheet- cattle and sheep

See the fact sheet: Liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Parasitology Submission Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568