Anthelmintic resistance – finding solutions to a global problem

Sustainable worm control is a major concern to the livestock industry around the world as a result of the development and spread of drug resistant parasites.  Research at Moredun is helping to establish a clearer picture here in the UK, but what about tackling the potential global problem of anthelmintic resistance?

Scientists from Moredun have been sharing their knowledge of worm control strategies with scientists, farmers and vets in the Tamil Nadu region of India as part of an international collaboration between the Madras Veterinary College, University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Calgary (Canada) and the University of Bristol (UK).

In India, where the health, welfare and productivity of sheep and goats is so vital to the health and livelihoods of the population, improving worm control strategies will be a major step forward for resource-poor farmers.  Anthelmintic drugs have been used widely in India for many years and there are many generic products on the market, however, the current status of resistance to these drugs is largely unknown.

During March and April Dr Alison Dicker, a parasitologist at Moredun, embarked on a 6 week trip to India to participate in a field study to evaluate the status of anthelmintic resistance in sheep and goats.  During her trip, Alison demonstrated Moredun’s diagnostic techniques to staff at Madras Veterinary College, as well as undertaking farm visits and talking to local farmers about sustainable worm control strategies.

Alison commented “This study is looking at resistance against three different types of drugs namely Albendazole, Levamisole and Ivermectin. We found that the incidence of worm infections was relatively high in sheep and goat populations in this region of India despite regular deworming.  It was fantastic to support the local farmers and vets as they embark on this important project and to share our experiences of combating worm infections in the face of increasing anthelmintic resistance”

Alison’s trip was part of the three year RISCNET project, which is part of the CIDLID programme.  CIDLID (Combating Infectious Diseases in Livestock for International Development) supports the greater understanding of how to combat diseases of domesticated livestock that affect the livelihoods in developing countries.  The programme is run and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with input from the Scottish Government.