Veterinary Services

• Dictyocaulosis common across Scotland
• Louping ill confirmed in cattle and sheep
• Triclabendazole resistance suspected in a sheep flock in the Western Isles
• Trichomoniasis causes deaths among garden birds.

Strong winds from the south and south-west brought exceptionally high temperatures to most of Scotland with the mean value for the month of 9.9°C being 1.9°C above the 1961 to 1990 average. Rainfall was also above average and flooding was reported in the northeast in the later part of October. These conditions favoured parasite larval development and spread.

The State Veterinary Service confirmed Newcastle Disease (pigeon variant) in partridge on a farm in East Lothian in October. Approximately 14,000 birds, principally grey partridges were culled. Surveillance patrols for avian influenza were started at 21 wild bird sites across Scotland where waterfowl including swans where these waterfowl are known to congregate.