Metagenomics of parasitic nematodes in faecal samples from ruminants

Background

Nematode parasites trigger production-limiting endemic diseases that are a major obstacle to animal health and productivity. In addition to causing losses due to subclinical infections and associated performance losses, severe nematode infections can cause severe clinical signs and sometimes death.

Taken together, these infections threaten the viability of the livestock industry worldwide, including the EU and Sweden. Current parasite control measures rely mainly on repeated anthelmintic treatments, but this strategy is threatened by the widespread development of drug resistance in some species. Consequently, accurate species identification is crucial both for epidemiological studies and for monitoring drug resistance in flocks treated with anthelmintics. However, due to the high morphological similarity between the egg and larval stages, such identification is not a trivial task with traditional parasitological techniques and relies on expertise that is steadily declining.

Goal

The aim of this study is to develop a protocol based on next generation sequencing (NGS) for species delimitation of nematode communities occurring in complex samples consisting of multiple species in different genera. Such a diagnostic tool is an important prerequisite to investigate the dynamic changes in parasite community structure in relation to deworming strategies. The same technique can also be used to study possible changes in nematode community structure in areas with different levels of interaction between domestic livestock and wild ruminants, but also in the context of animal trade leading to the movement of animals between regions and different farms.

Project description

We therefore expect to have a tool at our disposal to investigate in detail the complex interactions between different host animals and their parasites and how this is influenced by different biological and environmental factors.

Specifications

None specific to this project. Welcome with your application!