Levamisole binding sites in Haemonchus contortus

Larval and adult extracts from isolates of Haemonchus contortus were assayed for specific [3H]levamisole binding activity. All of the tissue preparations displayed [3H]levamisole binding sites. The sensitive isolate SE and resistant isolate RJ showed no differences in larval and adult binding data. Larval SE extracts had higher receptor density (Bmax = 648 fmol mg-1) and dissociation constant (Kd = 1.28 microM) for [3H]levamisole than larval extracts of the American isolate RUSA (Bmax = 87 fmol mg-1 and Kd = 0.15 microM). Extracts of adult SE and RUSA isolates contain as much as 327 fmol mg-1 of protein and 205 fmol mg-1 of protein, respectively, and similar dissociation constants (Kd = 0.77 microM and Kd = 0.81 microM, respectively). There was a good correlation between specific binding activity of larval and adult extracts in both SE and RUSA isolates. The nicotinic cholinergic antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin had no effects in either isolate on [3H]levamisole binding activity. The results confirm that levamisole acts at a cholinergic receptor in H. contortus, and suggest that target site modification could be involved in the development of levamisole resistance.

Nematode control practices and anthelmintic resistance on British sheep farms

Nearly 23 per cent of 3000 randomly selected sheep farmers returned questionnaires on strategies to control the development of anthelmintic resistance. Twenty-five per cent stated that they regularly checked the accuracy of their drenching gun, and 52 per cent stated that they weighed a few animals and treated the whole flock like the heaviest. The mean annual frequency of dosing lambs was 4.39 compared with 2.43 for ewes. Forty-eight per cent stated that they changed the anthelmintic group annually. Seventeen per cent always treated sheep brought on to their farm with ivermectin. However, only 7 per cent had had their flocks tested for anthelmintic-resistant nematodes. The responses suggest that most sheep farmers are not actively seeking to prevent the development and spread of anthelmintic-resistant nematodes.

Anthelmintic resistance in human helminths: Learning from the problems with worm control in livestock

During the past decade, the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in some economically important helminths of sheep, goats and horses has increased dramatically. In some regions of Australia, South America and South Africa, anthelmintic resistance has become a serious threat to the survival of the sheep industry. Mass treatment programmes and exclusive reliance on anthelmintics for worm control in livestock are amongst the most important reasons for the development of anthelmintic resistance. In this article, Stanny Geerts, Gerald Coles and Bruno Gryseels draw the attention to a number of errors that have occurred in the control of helminths in livestock and that should be avoided in the control of worms in humans.

Haemonchus contortus glycoproteins contain N-linked oligosaccharides with novel highly fucosylated core structures

Structural studies on the N-linked oligosaccharides of Haemonchus contortus, an economically important nematode that parasitizes domestic ruminants, have revealed core fucosylation of a type not previously observed in any eukaryotic glycoprotein. Mass spectrometric analyses were performed on detergent extracts of homogenized adult H. contortus and on purified H11, a glycoprotein isolated from intestinal brush borders which has been previously shown to be an effective vaccine antigen. The major N-linked glycans identified in the present study have up to three fucose residues attached to their chitobiose cores. The fucoses are found at the 3- and/or 6-positions of the proximal GlcNAc and at the 3-position of the distal GlcNAc. The latter substitution is unique in N-glycans. Most anti-H11 monoclonal antibodies are known to recognize carbohydrate epitopes, and it is possible that the newly discovered multifucosylated core structures are highly immunogenic in this glycoprotein.

Occurrence of anthelmintic resistant nematodes on sheep farms in England and goat farms in England and Wales

A survey in 1992 showed that 44 per cent of the sheep farms tested in the south west and 15 per cent of those in the north east of England had parasitic nematode worm burdens which were resistant to benzimidazole anthelmintics, and that 65 per cent of the non-dairy goat farms tested in England and Wales had resistant worms. Ostertagia circumcincta was the main species in sheep and Haemonchus contortus in goats. The resistance to benzimidazoles was diagnosed by a combination of an egg hatch assay and a larval development test. A simplified faecal egg count reduction test was used to investigate sheep and goat farms for signs of ivermectin resistance but no positive cases were detected. The initial identification of levamisole resistance on one farm, both from a faecal egg count reduction test and a positive larval development test, was confirmed by a 'dose and slaughter' trial.

Detection of gastrointestinal nematodes by a coproantigen capture ELISA

An assay is described for the quantitative detection of excretory/secretory antigens liberated by the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus and voided in the host's faeces. A rabbit polyclonal antiserum to the antigens detected them in a dose-dependent manner and was sufficiently sensitive to recognise infection in mice carrying a mean worm burden of nine worms. The assay was specific, giving higher optical density readings with the faeces of mice infected with H polygyrus than with faeces from mice carrying patent infections with Trichuris muris, Hymenolepsis microstoma or the intestinal phase of Trichinella spiralis, or with faeces from rats carrying Hymenolepis diminuta or hamsters carrying Necator americanus or Ancylostoma ceylanicum. It detected the parasite antigens in faeces stored for eight weeks at -20, 4 or 20 degrees C and could detect prepatent infections. The assay has potential for the development of infection intensity-sensitive assays for gastrointestinal nematodes and for the detection of animals harbouring the arrested larvae of parasites.