Development of a penside diagnostic test for Fasciola hepatica

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Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and production losses in sheep and cattle in many of the major livestock rearing areas of the world. In highly endemic regions of the UK, because of the lack of cost effective diagnostic tests, groups of animals are blanket treated, which puts selection pressure on parasite populations to develop resistance. Resistance to drugs effective against liver fluke is becoming widespread. With funding from BBSRC, in partnership with all five UK meat and milk levy boards, we developed a preliminary prototype pen-side diagnostic test for F. hepatica, based on lateral flow technology. The aim of this project is to produce a validated pen-side lateral flow test for liver fluke, which works with a drop of blood collected from the ear of a cow or a sheep that farmers can use themselves, and that is ready to be taken up by a company for commercial development and production.