Livestock parasites

Parasite disease update November 2024 – South West Scotland

It is always interesting and challenging to predict the seasonal variations in parasite disease risk. This year is no exception and the often used phase ‘test and don’t guess’ is particularly relevant.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
21/11/2024

Help COWS understand lungworm better

We have had several anecdotal and confirmed cases of lungworm in cattle already, starting in mid-June. The peak of cases tends to occur in September, and we think this year will be no exception.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
28/08/2024

Sustainable Farming Initiative - Roundworms

As part of the second year of Scottish Government’s ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming’ initiative, farmers can claim £250 for undertaking up to two animal health interventions in 2024. Two important interventions which will receive funding (and could be claimed for separately on mixed units) are the control of roundworms in sheep and cattle.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
22/08/2024

Haemonchus diagnosed in multiple submissions this week

We have had several submissions of lambs this week. In four of the five submissions, there have been significant numbers of Haemonchus worms visible in the abomasal washes, associated with worm egg counts of 13,650-64,800 strongyle eggs.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
16/08/2024

Babesia on the March?

Like last summer, we are seeing a slight increase in case numbers of Babesiosis in cattle..…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/08/2024

June cases

Another month has ended and we still seem to be having a very Scottish summer. The balance of submissions and diagnoses has taken its usual seasonal shift away from abortion and towards parasitic disease. Nematodirosis and Coccidiosis were diagnosed across all the hubs and central laboratory in June.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/07/2024

Nematodirus

We have recently seen a run of Nematodirus cases in lambs in our PM room. The whole of Scotland and Northern England is currently showing as high or very high risk on the Nematodirus forecast, and we usually see our peak of cases in late May and early June in this area of South West Scotland.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
13/06/2024

Parasite risks this spring

The weather conditions this spring could increase the risk of coccidiosis with some very high oocyst counts already recorded in earlier born lambs and suckled calves.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
19/04/2024

December liver fluke update

We last sent out our liver fluke forecast and thoughts in November, so thought that now would be a good time to update things given that we are approaching or already in a handling window for ewes in mid pregnancy.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
21/12/2023

Louping ill: Vaccine support sought

Louping ill virus is a flavivirus, transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks, and is commonly found in the Highlands, Perthshire and Argyll & Bute in Scotland. SRUC makes ten to 25 diagnoses of louping ill in flocks of sheep every year, and around five diagnoses in cattle annually.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
08/11/2023

Liver fluke update

So far this autumn we have examined a lot of sheep and not seen any evidence of recently acquired liver fluke infection in sheep coming through the postmortem rooms at Dumfries and Glasgow.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
07/11/2023

Look out for Lungworm

We have seen confirmed cases of lungworm last month across all of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire. This may be as a result of the hot dry weather earlier this year followed by warm and wet weather.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
02/11/2023