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NEW VACINE IN ALBERTA
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Apr 27, 2026
NOW AVAILABLE ! You must call your Vet and have them call.
BVR Vet Supply 1-825-210-9166 Extension 103 - Lillian or Melissa
Liver Fluke Treatment in Bison and Elk
Two species of liver flukes have recently gained attention in both livestock and game farm industries. One species, the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, has a wide range of herbivore hosts in which it can develop including cattle, bison, sheep, deer, swine and llama. In contrast, the giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, has a narrow host range. Wapiti (elk), white-tailed deer and caribou are the main hosts of this latter parasite in North America.
Grazing livestock in pastures near muddy or shallow water makes them very susceptible to such infestations of the common liver fluke (fasciola hepatica) or deer/elk liver fluke (fasciola magna).
The symptoms in livestock that show livestock are general in nature and appear as weight loss, reduced body condition and depending upon infestation severity, some cases of chronic diarrhea. The presence within a herd is often made following a postmortem examination.
Triclabendazole is available from your veterinarian as a compounded product under a prescription. It is highly effective and treats all three life stages of the parasite. Animals should be treated at least once in the autumn to reduce infection and again in the spring before turnout onto pasture to reduce pasture contamination.
The treatment is an oral drench which is suitable for cattle and sheep. For bison and elk, which are stressed easily, the product can be administered by mixing or top dressed with feed (grain or hay). As the product is concentrated (240 mg/mL), producers may want to dilute the product with water (1:2 – 1:4) to ensure all animals receive the treatment dose.
Consult your veterinarian about the treatment options and instructions.
Several good references are available on line:
https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/livestock/controlling-liver-flukes-in-beef-cattle/
https://www.beefresearch.ca/fact-sheets/fluke-of-nature.pdf
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