Liver Rot 171 



of healthy sheep often show grubs. Brain disorders are often caused by 

 forage poisoning. 



LIVER ROT 



{Liver Rot) (Distomatosis) 



This disease is more prevalent during wet years, or among sheep 

 pastured on low or overflow lands. 



The liver fluke passes a portion of its life in a snail which is about 

 1-50 of an inch long. These snails prefer low, wet ground rather than 

 pools. The worm emerges from the snail to fasten itself to the grass, 

 usually the lower portion of the grass and for that reason liver rot is 

 more prevalent in pastures that are closely grazed. The worm probably 

 gains entrance to the liver by burrowing with its pointed head. In the 

 liver, it develops sexually. It then makes its way back to the intestines 

 through the bile duct and passes out with the feces and again enters the 

 snail where it multiplies. 



SYMPTOMS 



Sheep usually do not show the evil effects of the worms until sev- 

 eral weeks after the first worms have entered the liver. It more often 

 effects the lambs and yearlings. Liver fluke is more prevalent during 

 the fall months but may be in a herd all winter, killing off few or many. 

 Some of the stronger or older sheep may apparently recover, but the di- 

 sease may reoccur. The liver of effected animals always shows the ef- 

 fect of the disease after slaughter or death. The sheep loose the appe- 

 tite, the skin and membrane becomes pale and paper like, the sheep gets 

 weak and the eyelids and sometimes the throat swells. The cases take a 

 lingering course of from two months to a year. 



TREATMENT 



Pastures effected with the snails producing the larvae must be avoided 

 during wet seasons after May 1. Sprinkling of salt or lime on effected 

 pastures seems to be beneficial. It is claimed by Thomas that salt licked 

 by sheep will kill the worm while in the stomach. 



