Molecular tools for detection of gastro-intestinal parasites and anthelmintic resistance in sheep

The aim of the project was to develop molecular tools for parasite diagnosis as well as sampling methods and genetic markers for the detection of drug resistance and in particular towards the most pathogenetic parasite of sheep, Haemonchus contortus. Through the project, we now have access to various molecular methods both to detect the most important parasites and the presence of benzimadazole-resistant H. contortus in flocks of sheep. In contrast, the allele frequencies of the genetic markers developed to detect resistance to ivermectin or levamisole were not correlated with a reduced treatment effect. In summary, occurrence of Haemonchus contortus and the presence of resistance to benzimidazoles can now be monitored with higher precision than before.

Collaborations

The project is carried out in collaboration between the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Gård & Djurhälsan. In addition to the participants from SLU, Katarina Gustafsson, Gård & Djurhälsan, is also part of the project group.

Publications of the project

Genome-wide analysis of the response to ivermectin treatment by a Swedish field population of Haemonchus contortus (2022)

Farmers' perception on the control of gastrointestinal parasites in organic and conventional sheep production in Sweden (2022)

Using droplet digital PCR for the detection of hco-acr-8b levamisole resistance marker in H. contortus (2021)

Anthelmintic resistance in small ruminants in the Nordic-Baltic region (2021)

Sheep nemabiome diversity and its response to anthelmintic treatment in Swedish sheep herds (2021)

The identification and semi-quantitative assessment of gastrointestinal nematodes in faecal samples using multiplex real-time PCR assays (2021)

Utilization of droplet digital PCR to survey resistance associated polymorphisms in the β tubulin gene of Haemonchus contortus in sheep flocks in Sweden (2020)

Assessment of the F200Y mutation frequency in the β tubulin gene of Haemonchus contortus following the exposure to a discriminating concentration of thiabendazole in the egg hatch test (2020)

First case of monepantel resistant nematodes of sheep in Sweden (2020)

Increasing importance of anthelmintic resistance in European livestock: creation and meta-analysis of an open database (2020)