Sheep Health at Elanco

Gastrointestinal worms can have a major impact on flock health and productivity. There are more than 20 different species of nematode parasites in sheep, many of which have little or no impact on the health and welfare of the sheep. However, some do have a significant impact on health and productivity, with the four gastrointestinal worms of most concern being Nematodirus battus, Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta and Trichostrongylus spp.

At present, resistant and multi-resistant worms are threatening the efficacy of existing anthelmintics. Worm control practices that were previously recommended have been shown to increase the rate at which anthelmintic resistance develops. As such, it is important we adopt a more sustainable approach to worm control.

Find out how to manage nematodirus and other worms by using anthelmintics in a sustainable approach to worm control.

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Liver fluke is known to cause severe clinical disease and death, costing the sheep industry alone millions of pounds every year. Now spreading to new regions liver fluke can increasingly be found throughout the UK, largely due to the impact of climate change.

Due to the lengthening of seasons, and the impact of warm, wet weather on the liver fluke lifecycle, the liver fluke challenge can now be higher for a longer period with the risk of high fluke burdens in both sheep and cattle extending throughout the year if not treated effectively.

Depending on the number of fluke in the liver, the effects can range from extensive liver damage and death, to less severe damage with a decrease in liver function and a loss of productivity for the animal.

Find out more about liver fluke in sheep and how to treat.

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Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract caused by single celled intracellular parasites of the genus Eimeria. Young stock such as lambs and calves are at highest risk of disease¹, there are over 20 different species of coccidia in cattle and sheep which are host specific with no cross infection; it is important to note that not all species of coccidia are pathogenic.

As it progresses through its life cycle the parasite reproduces within the cells that line the gut causing the cells to rupture, damaging the villi. This damage reduces the amount of nutrients absorbed, causing ill health, poor growth rates and leaving animals susceptible to other diseases. However, the obvious signs of disease (such as diarrhoea) do not appear until after a significant level of damage has already happened, leading to reduced growth rate and economic loss.²

Find out more about coccidiosis

Blowfly is the main external parasite which traditionally affects sheep in the late spring and summer months. However, changing weather patterns have resulted in an increasingly unpredictable and lengthening season. Blowfly strike can occur quickly with devastating results in warm, humid weather and if left untreated, can result in death. Blowfly strike is a major welfare issue for sheep but also causes inconvenience and financial implications for farmers.

Find out more information on Blowfly
Treat and prevent using the CLiK™ product portfolio and Crovect™

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Sheep scab is caused by a microscopic mite called Psoroptes ovis. The mite lives on the skin of the sheep at the base of the fleece and in the ears. The mite, its saliva and its faeces can all cause an allergic reaction in the sheep that causes the sheep to itch. The lifecycle takes 14 days and the population of mites can double every six days.³

Animals affected by sheep scab become distressed with symptoms including:

Learn more about scab and how to control it

Lice are small, pale red/brown flat insects (approx. 3-4mm long) feeding on skin debris and hair, living within the centimetre of the wool closest to the skin.

The most common louse in sheep is the biting or chewing louse Bovicola ovis. Lice can be found anywhere on the sheep and do not produce a definite scab lesion. Lice populations are influenced by body condition – the lower the body condition score the higher the population of lice.

The main method of transfer is animal to animal contact. Lice are, therefore, a particular problem in housed sheep, although it is not a building problem. As lice can live off the animal for 16-17 days, it is possible for a farmer to bring an infestation onto their farm through brought in stock, clothing or livestock transport.

Learn more about lice and treatment in sheep.

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Ticks can have significant effects on sheep welfare and production, and recent studies suggest ticks are becoming more numerous and widespread throughout the UK. In sheep, they transmit three important diseases: louping ill, lamb pyaemia (‘cripples’) and tick borne fever. Adult ticks will also feed on humans where they can transmit Lyme's disease, a potentially debilitating disease.

Ticks are small, blood-sucking ectoparasites that attach to the sheep by biting into the skin. The main sheep tick is the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus. Ticks thrive in areas of rough grazing, moorland, heath or woodland, as they need dense, damp environments in order to survive when they are not feeding on an animal. They don't jump or fly, but are picked up by animals as they brush through vegetation.

Find out more about controlling ticks in sheep.

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