Liver Flukes, The Science Squad
(eVideo)

English

Originally released by Network Ireland Television, 2015.

Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on September 25, 2017.

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Ireland is renowned for its lush green grass… but lurking between the blades is a dangerous threat. Liver flukes are a parasite present on most Irish farms and they’re estimated to cost Irish farmers up to €90 million a year. Most farmers currently do a general douse of their sheep and cattle against liver fluke, but this can be expensive due to required milk withdrawals and the overuse of flukicides has also led to the emergence of resistant strains of liver fluke. Kathriona meets Riona Sayers from Teagascto find out exactly what liver fluke is and damage they can cause, and they both snap on the latex gloves to analyse a cow’s liver that has been home to flukes. It’s not for the faint hearted!! Back in the fields, Alan O’Riordan from Tyndall National Institute to discusses the new technologies that he and Riona are developing together to help farmers instantly diagnose the condition using just their computer or mobile phone. Kathriona also meets with farmer Shane Fitzgerald, who had a case of liver fluke on his farm in 2009. Shane talks about the serious milk yield losses and a reduction in fertility caused by the condition, and speaks passionately about the importance of better diagnostics for Irish farmers.

9 - 12, Academic/AP

Streaming video file.

System requirements: Access Video On Demand playback platform.

Closed-captioned.