The liver fluke has a complicated, indirect life cycle. A freshwater snail is required as an intermediate host. Since these snails can only survive under moist conditions, liver fluke infections are mainly found in alpacas that have grazed on wet, damp pastures. On pastures where sheep or cattle grazed the previous year, infections occur even more frequently. On sandy soils or pastures with good drainage, liver fluke does not naturally occur. In contrast, a liver fluke infection is always a risk in, for example, the western pasture areas. Note that even a single wet corner or ditch edge with water can serve as a source of liver fluke infections.
The adult liver fluke lives in the bile ducts of the liver and produces characteristic eggs that are excreted in the feces. Depending on the ambient temperature and the presence of water, within 3 weeks a larva develops that swims in the water and actively seeks out the intermediate host: a freshwater snail. The larva penetrates the snail and multiplies inside it. There it develops into the next stage, the so-called cercariae. These cercariae leave the snail and become infectious to your alpaca. At this stage they are called metacercariae, which can remain infectious for several months. After ingestion, the young larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and migrate to the liver, where they wander for several weeks before ending up in the bile ducts. The entire cycle takes at least 4–5 months.
Infection with liver fluke can cause various symptoms. In cases of severe, acute infection, your alpaca may die. Alpacas that have grazed on heavily contaminated pastures are especially at risk and may suddenly die six to eight weeks after infection without showing any outward signs. In chronic infections, reduced immunity, decreased fertility, poor growth, and premature births may occur.
The diagnosis of liver fluke is not easy to establish. A correct assessment of factors that determine pasture contamination is very important. Therefore, actively monitor moisture and temperature, as well as the grazing history of ruminants. This history, combined with blood tests for liver enzymes, a worm examination, and the clinical picture of your alpaca, will lead to a probable diagnosis.
If a worm test is performed with a sufficient amount of manure and the correct technique, the diagnosis can be confirmed by detecting liver fluke eggs. At Worm&Co, we use the modified Dorsman method. This test is qualitative, which means we can determine with certainty whether or not the animal is infected.
If the worm test shows that your alpaca or llama is infected with liver fluke, we will provide you with a personalized treatment recommendation. This way, the health of your animal(s) comes first and unnecessary worming is avoided. Feel free to contact our team if you have any questions; we are happy to help!
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