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Burden DJ, Bartley DJ, Besier RB, Claerebout E, Elliott TP, Höglund J, Rehbein S, Torres-Acosta JFJ, Van Wyk JA, Yazwinski T. World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.): Third edition of the guideline for evaluating efficacy of anthelmintics in ruminants (bovine, ovine, caprine). Vet Parasitol 2024; 329:110187. [PMID: 38728835 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
This guideline is aimed at those who are involved in the assessment of anthelmintic efficacy in ruminant livestock species (bovine, ovine and caprine). The intent is to provide a framework that can be adopted worldwide for the testing of anthelmintics in ruminants, such that studies carried out in different countries can be compared and thereby unnecessary duplication can be reduced. Recommendations are made for the selection, housing and feeding of study animals, the type of studies required, the method used to conduct those studies, the assessment of results and the standards for defining anthelmintic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Burden
- Duilio Veterinary Parasitology, The Vicarage, Church Lane, Churcham, Gloucester, UK.
| | - D J Bartley
- Disease Control, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, UK
| | - R B Besier
- College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - E Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - T P Elliott
- Centre for Animal Research and Teaching, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - J Höglund
- Section for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Rehbein
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, Rohrdorf, Germany
| | - J F J Torres-Acosta
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - J A Van Wyk
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - T Yazwinski
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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Lyons M, Brown TL, Lahuerta-Marin A, Morgan ER, Airs PM. A molecular assessment of Ostertagia leptospicularis and Spiculopteragia asymmetrica among wild fallow deer in Northern Ireland and implications for false detection of livestock-associated species. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:141. [PMID: 38500187 PMCID: PMC10949651 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06147-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild deer populations utilizing livestock grazing areas risk cross-species transmission of gastrointestinal nematode parasites (GINs), including GINs with anthelmintic resistance (AR) traits. Wild deer have been shown to carry problematic GIN species such as Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus species in the UK, but the presence of livestock GINs in Northern Ireland deer populations is unknown. Also, is it not known whether AR traits exist among GINs of deer such as Ostertagia leptospicularis and Spiculopteragia asymmetrica in pastureland where anthelmintics are heavily used. METHODS Adult-stage GIN samples were retrieved from Northern Irish wild fallow deer abomasa. Individual specimens were subject to a species-specific PCR analysis for common sheep and cattle GIN species with ITS-2 sequence analysis to validate species identities. In addition, the beta-tubulin gene was subject to sequencing to identify benzimidazole (BZ) resistance markers. RESULTS ITS-2 sequencing revealed O. leptospicularis and S. asymmetrica, but species-specific PCR yielded false-positive hits for H. contortus, Teladorsagia circimcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus and Ostertagia ostertagi. For beta-tubulin, O. leptospicularis and S. asymmetrica yielded species-specific sequences at the E198 codon, but no resistance markers were identified in either species at positions 167, 198 or 200 of the coding region. DISCUSSION From this report, no GIN species of significance in livestock were identified among Northern Ireland fallow deer. However, false-positive PCR hits for sheep and cattle-associated GINs is concerning as the presence of deer species in livestock areas could impact both deer and livestock diagnostics and lead to overestimation of both GIN burden in deer and the role as of deer as drivers of these pathogens. ITS-2 sequences from both O. leptospicularis and S. asymmetrica show minor sequence variations to geographically distinct isolates. AR has been noted among GINs of deer but molecular analyses are lacking for GINs of wildlife. In producing the first beta-tubulin sequences for both O. leptospicularis and S. asymmetrica, we report no BZ resistance in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS This work contributes to genetic resources for wildlife species and considers the implications of such species when performing livestock GIN diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Lyons
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland, 12 Stoney Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - Tony L Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Angela Lahuerta-Marin
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland, 12 Stoney Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - Eric R Morgan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Paul M Airs
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
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Yan X, He S, Liu Y, Han B, Zhang N, Deng H, Wang Y, Liu M. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of gastrointestinal nematodes in different populations of Kazakh sheep. Exp Parasitol 2023; 254:108625. [PMID: 37769836 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in sheep has been recognized globally as a major problem challenging animal health and production. The objective of this study is to use a molecular diagnosis of the prevalence for gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) dominant species of Kazakh sheep and its hybrid (Kazakh × Texel). The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) sequences of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were used as the target sequence. In the study, three dominant species of nematodes, namely Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., and Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta from the Kazakh sheep and the F1 and F2 generations of Texel × Kazakh sheep hybrids were subjected to molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis. The fecal and single larva genomic DNA were extracted and amplified by PCR using specific primers to determine the infection rate of the three nematode species. In addition, the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics methods to construct a phylogenetic tree. The results showed that all the three species had their ITS-2 specific amplified. According to the sequence homology analysis of PCR products, the results showed a high homology (above 98.5% homology) with H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., T. circumcincta ITS-2 sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the ITS-2 sequences of the three species were on the same branch as the ITS-2 sequences of the same species in NCBI. And on different branches from those of the ITS-2 sequences of different families, genera and species. Sequences carried out on three species from different samples showed a close relationship and little genetic difference in phylogenetic tree. The infection rates based on fecal DNA were 35.59, 25.55, and 11.24% for H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., and T. circumcincta, respectively. While the infection rates based on larva DNA, were 24.07, 18.89, and 13.26% for H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., and T. circumcincta, respectively. The seasonal prevalence of the three dominant species in spring was significantly higher than that in autumn and winter. And there was no significant difference between Kazakh, F1 and F2 sheep considering the infection rate of the studied three species of nematodes. This study provides valuable molecular approaches for epidemiological surveillance and for assisting in the control of Nematodirus infection in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, China
| | - Sangang He
- Institute of Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Reproduction of Herbivorous Livestock of Ministry of Agriculture, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China
| | - Yiyong Liu
- Animal Husbandry, Terminus of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Yining, Xinjiang Province, China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute of Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Reproduction of Herbivorous Livestock of Ministry of Agriculture, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Reproduction of Herbivorous Livestock of Ministry of Agriculture, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China
| | - Haifeng Deng
- Zhaosu Horse Farm, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Zhaosu, Xinjiang Province, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, China
| | - Mingjun Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Genetic Breeding and Reproduction of Herbivorous Livestock of Ministry of Agriculture, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China.
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Charlier J, Williams DJ, Ravinet N, Claerebout E. To treat or not to treat: diagnostic thresholds in subclinical helminth infections of cattle. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:139-151. [PMID: 36526548 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Helminth infections of cattle place significant burdens on livestock production and farm economic efficiency. Heavy infections are relatively easy to detect and treat with anthelmintics. However, subclinical infections have major but often hidden impacts on animals, necessitating more refined diagnostics to detect them and ideally inform farmers about the likely impact of anthelmintic treatment on animal and herd performance. Here, we review recent advances in diagnosing three major cattle helminth infections - gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), liver flukes, and lungworms - and the search for subclinical infection thresholds to guide treatment decisions. Combining refined diagnostic thresholds with farm-specific information on grazing systems and animal history enables farmers to tailor helminth treatments to specific epidemiological circumstances, thereby limiting anthelmintic resistance (AR) and boosting agricultural efficiency and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana J Williams
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Maurizio A, Frangipane di Regalbono A, Cassini R. Quantitative Monitoring of Selected Groups of Parasites in Domestic Ruminants: A Comparative Review. Pathogens 2021; 10:1173. [PMID: 34578205 PMCID: PMC8467286 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites have had a significant impact on domestic ruminant health and production for a long time, but the emerging threat of drug resistance urgently requires an improved approach to parasite monitoring and control activities. The study reviewed the international literature to analyze the different proposals for the sampling approach and the quantitative estimation of parasite burdens in groups of animals. Moreover, the use of thresholds to decide when and which animal to treat was also investigated. The findings of the study highlighted the presence of a wide-ranging literature on quantitative monitoring for gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), while more limited data were found for coccidia, and no specific indications were reported for tapeworms. Concerning liver flukes, bronchopulmonary nematodes (BPN) and permanent ectoparasites (lice and mange mites), the diagnostic process is usually aimed at the detection of the parasite rather than at the burden estimation. The main research gaps that need further investigation were also highlighted. For some groups of parasites (e.g., GIN and coccidia) the quantitative approach requires an improved standardization, while its usefulness needs to be confirmed for others (e.g., BPN and lice). The development of practical guidelines for monitoring is also encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rudi Cassini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16-35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.M.); (A.F.d.R.)
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Reslova N, Skorpikova L, Kyrianova IA, Vadlejch J, Höglund J, Skuce P, Kasny M. The identification and semi-quantitative assessment of gastrointestinal nematodes in faecal samples using multiplex real-time PCR assays. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:391. [PMID: 34372893 PMCID: PMC8351436 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04882-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in ruminants is routinely based on morphological/morphometric analysis of parasite specimens recovered by coprological methods, followed by larval culture (LC) techniques. Such an approach is laborious, time-consuming, requires a skilled expert, and moreover suffers from certain limitations. Molecular tools are able to overcome the majority of these issues, providing accurate identification of nematode species and, therefore, may be valuable in sustainable parasite control strategies. METHODS Two multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for specific detection of five main and one invasive GIN species, including an internal amplification control to avoid false-negative results, were designed targeting SSU rRNA and COI genetic markers, as well as established ITS1/2 sequences. The assays were optimized for analysis of DNA extracted directly from sheep faeces and verified for Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Nematodirus battus, Chabertia ovina, and Ashworthius sidemi. Semi-quantitative evaluation of infection intensity was enabled using a plasmid construct and a dilution series of sheep faeces with a known number of nematode eggs. Assays were tested on 44 individually collected faecal samples from three farms, and results were compared to those from faecal egg counts (FEC) using the concentration McMaster technique and LC. RESULTS Multiplex real-time PCR assays showed great specificity to target nematodes. During the analysis of faecal samples, the assays proved to have higher sensitivity in strongylid-type egg detection over FEC by revealing three false-negative samples, while showing moderate agreement in evaluation of infection intensity. The multiplex assays further clarified GIN species identification compared to LC, which had confused determination of Teladorsagia spp. for Trichostrongylus spp. CONCLUSIONS Our multiplex assays proved to be a rapid and accurate approach enabling simultaneous and reliable GIN species identification from faeces and semi-quantitative estimation of the number of eggs present. This approach increases diagnostic value and may add a high degree of precision to evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy, where it is important to identify species surviving after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikol Reslova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lucie Skorpikova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Angela Kyrianova
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Vadlejch
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Philip Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Martin Kasny
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Kotze AC, Gilleard JS, Doyle SR, Prichard RK. Challenges and opportunities for the adoption of molecular diagnostics for anthelmintic resistance. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020; 14:264-273. [PMID: 33307336 PMCID: PMC7726450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthelmintic resistance is a significant threat to livestock production systems worldwide and is emerging as an important issue in companion animal parasite management. It is also an emerging concern for the control of human soil-transmitted helminths and filaria. An important aspect of managing anthelmintic resistance is the ability to utilise diagnostic tests to detect its emergence at an early stage. In host-parasite systems where resistance is already widespread, diagnostics have a potentially important role in determining those drugs that remain the most effective. The development of molecular diagnostics for anthelmintic resistance is one focus of the Consortium for Anthelmintic Resistance and Susceptibility (CARS) group. The present paper reflects discussions of this issue that occurred at the most recent meeting of the group in Wisconsin, USA, in July 2019. We compare molecular resistance diagnostics with in vivo and in vitro phenotypic methods, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each. We assess whether our knowledge on the identity of molecular markers for resistance towards the different drug classes is sufficient to provide some expectation that molecular tests for field use may be available in the short-to-medium term. We describe some practical aspects of such tests and how our current capabilities compare to the requirements of an 'ideal' test. Finally, we describe examples of drug class/parasite species interactions that provide the best opportunity for commercial use of molecular tests in the near future. We argue that while such prototype tests may not satisfy the requirements of an 'ideal' test, their potential to provide significant advances over currently-used phenotypic methods warrants their development as field diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C. Kotze
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia,Corresponding author. , CSIRO Agriculture and Food, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia.
| | - John S. Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Host-Parasite Interactions Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Stephen R. Doyle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Roger K. Prichard
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
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Tapia-Escárate D, Lopez-Villalobos N, Scott I, Wilson PR, Bisset SA, Sanhueza JM, Pomroy WE. A survey of gastrointestinal nematode species in red deer (Cervus elaphus) farms in New Zealand using PCR. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 21:100419. [PMID: 32862895 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes are recognised as an animal health issue for farmed red deer. The aim of this study was to explore the range of species infecting farmed deer herds and their farm-level prevalence in New Zealand. Faecal samples were collected from 12-24-month-old deer (n = 6-26; mean 19) on 59 farms located in the North (n = 25) and South (n = 34) Islands. Sub-samples of faeces were pooled by farm and cultured to recover third stage larvae. Twenty four larvae were randomly selected and identified to species using a multiplex PCR (total = 1217 larvae). At farm-level the most prevalent nematodes were Oesophagostomum venulosum 83% (n = 49) and the deer-specific nematodes in the subfamily Ostertagiinae (=Ostertagia-type) including, Spiculoptera asymmetrica 73% (n = 43), Ostertagia leptospicularis 47% (n = 28), Spiculoptera spiculoptera 47% (n = 28). The recently identified Trichostrongylus askivali was present on 32% (n = 19) of the farms and Oesophagostomum sikae on 17% (n = 10). In the analysis of the total number of larvae identified, the proportion was in similar order, 45% (n = 548) were O. venulosum, 14% (n = 173) S. asymmetrica, 10% (n = 124) S. spiculoptera, 9% (n = 114) O. leptospicularis, T. askivali, 3% (n = 40) and only 2% were O. sikae (n = 20). This study is the first to show the farm-level prevalence of nematode species in deer in New Zealand and the first to use PCR as a diagnostic tool. It provides data consistent with cross-infection from sheep/cattle to deer, and provided tentative insights into the proportions of the main GIN species across the deer population including O. sikae and T. askivali which have only recently been identified in New Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Tapia-Escárate
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
| | - N Lopez-Villalobos
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - I Scott
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - P R Wilson
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - S A Bisset
- Hopkirk Research Institute, AgResearch Ltd, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - J M Sanhueza
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias y Salud Pública, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - W E Pomroy
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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Duzlu O, Yildirim A, Yetismis G, Onder Z, Simsek E, Ciloglu A, Demirpolat GS, Inci A. Development and field evaluation of a species-specific mt-COI targeted SYBR-Green Real Time PCR for detection and quantification of Haemonchus contortus in cattle in Turkey. Vet Parasitol 2019; 277:109020. [PMID: 31896019 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.109020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Haemonchus contortus is one of the most important gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) infecting sheep, goats, and cattle worldwide. We developed a SYBR Green real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for detection and quantification of H. contortus by using specific primers based on a conserved region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mt-COI) gene, and evaluated this technique in the detection of H. contortus infections in cattle in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The newly developed qPCR assay successfully discriminated H. contortus from other GIN species infecting cattle in the specificity evaluations, with a specific melt peak of 77.5 °C. Our results revealed the efficient amplification of the proposed target COI region within the range of plasmid copies, from 2 × 106 to 2 × 101 per μl, with 96.9 % efficiency, R² value of 0.999, and a slope of -3.398. Among the 920 cattle fecal samples from the field, 58 samples (6.3 %) were positive with qPCR assay, whereas 45 samples (4.9 %) were positive, as determined by larval culture, suggesting the utility of SYBR Green qPCR. Phylogenetic characterization of the partial COI gene of H. contortus isolates was also evaluated for 100 eggs and third stage larvae recovered from positive cattle faecal samples, which were verified with the qPCR assay prior to analyses. COI sequences were classified into three haplotypes (THC1 to THC3) with intraspecific nucleotide differences of 0.50 to 0.76 %. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the haplotypes grouped with H. contortus isolates from several countries in a monophyletic cluster, with evidence of at least two main haplogroups. Overall, the SYBR Green qPCR assay was highly specific and sensitive, suggesting that it can be used for screening of H. contortus infections in livestock populations in epidemiological studies and the control of this important parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onder Duzlu
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Alparslan Yildirim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Gamze Yetismis
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zuhal Onder
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Emrah Simsek
- Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Arif Ciloglu
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | | | - Abdullah Inci
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Molecular method for the semiquantitative identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in domestic ruminants. Parasitol Res 2019; 119:529-543. [PMID: 31834492 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Standard diagnostic methods currently in use for the identification of helminth infections in ruminants are based on the morphological analysis of immature and adult stages of parasites. This paper describes a method for the semiquantitative identification of nematodes, mainly Trichostrongyloidea, at species-level resolution. The method is based on amplification and fragment analysis followed by minisequencing of the ITS-2 region (internal transcribed spacer 2) of the ribosomal DNA of parasite eggs or larvae. This method allows for the identification of seven genera (Chabertia, Cooperia, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum, Ostertagia, Teladorsagia, and Trichostrongylus) and 12 species (Chabertia ovina, Cooperia curticei, Cooperia punctata, Cooperia oncophora/Cooperia surnabada, Haemonchus contortus, Haemonchus placei, Haemonchus longistipes, Oesophagostomum asperum, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei, and Trichostrongylus colubriformis) of infectious nematodes of domestic ruminants. The concordance between the morphological and molecular analyses in the detection of genera ranged from 0.84 to 0.99, suggesting the proposed detection method is specific, semiquantitative, less laborious, and highly cost-efficient.
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Sun MM, Han L, Zhou CY, Liu GH, Zhu XQ, Ma J. Mitochondrial genome evidence suggests Cooperia sp. from China may represent a distinct species from Cooperia oncophora from Australia. Parasitol Int 2019; 75:102001. [PMID: 31678435 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.102001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cooperia spp. are parasitic nematodes parasitizing in small intestine of ruminants with a worldwide distribution. Infection of ruminants with Cooperia species can cause severe enteritis, causing significant socio-economic losses to the livestock industry. However, it is yet to know whether there is genetic diversity in mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences of Cooperia nematodes from different geographic regions. The objective of the present study was to examine sequence difference in mt genomes between Cooperia sp. from China and other Cooperia species. We determined the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of 11 Cooperia specimens collected from the small intestine of a Tianzhu White yak in Gansu Province, northwestern China, which had 99% similarity with that of C. oncophora from Brazil (GenBank accession Number: AJ544290) in ITS-1, and 99% similarity with those from Denmark (AB245040), Scotland and Australia (AJ000032) in ITS-2, indicating that specimens used in the present study should at least represent parasites in Cooperia. We then determined the complete mt genome sequences of one representative specimen of Cooperia sp. from China (CspC), compared the mt DNA sequences with that of C. oncophora from Australia (COA, GQ888713), and conducted phylogenetic analysis with selected nematodes using both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on both concatenated 12 PCGs, rrnL and rrnS sequences and partial cox2 sequences. The complete mt genome sequence of CspC (KY769271) is 13, 583 bp in length, which is 91 bp shorter than that from COA. The sequence difference over the entire mt genome between CspC and COA was 12.2% in nucleotide and 6.3% in inferred amino acids, with nad4L and nad1 being the most variable and the most conserved PCGs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CspC and COA were closely-related but distinct taxa. The determination of mt genome sequences for Cooperia sp. from China also provides novel resources for further studies of taxonomy, systematics and population genetics of Cooperia from different geographical locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Miao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Liang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Cheng-Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
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Baltrušis P, Halvarsson P, Höglund J. Molecular detection of two major gastrointestinal parasite genera in cattle using a novel droplet digital PCR approach. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:2901-2907. [PMID: 31388787 PMCID: PMC6754349 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06414-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cooperia sp. and Ostertagia sp. are two cosmopolitan parasitic nematodes often found in mixed gastrointestinal infections in cattle across temperate regions. In light of the recent increase in the emergence of anthelmintic resistance in these and other nematodes derived from cattle around the globe, and their negative impact on animal health and productivity, novel molecular assays need to be put forth in order to facilitate the monitoring of parasite burden in infected herds, using pasture and/or fecal samples. Here, we describe a novel droplet digital PCR platform–based concept for precise identification and quantification of the two most abundant and important parasite genera in grazing western European cattle. By exploiting a single nucleotide difference in the two parasites’ ITS2 sequence regions, we have developed two specific hydrolysis probes labeled with FAM™ or HEX™ fluorophores, which can not only distinguish between the DNA sequences of the two, but also quantify them in mixed DNA samples. A third, newly developed universal probe was also tested along the genus-specific probes to provide a robust and accurate reference. It was evident that the universal probe displayed congruent results to those obtained by the genus-specific probes when used with DNA from both parasites in a single sample. All in all, the results of our assay suggest that this novel protocol could be used to distinguish and quantify cattle parasites belonging to the two most important genera (i.e., Cooperia and Ostertagia) in a single mixed DNA sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Baltrušis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7036, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Peter Halvarsson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7036, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7036, Uppsala, Sweden
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13
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Peña-Espinoza M, Valente AH, Thamsborg SM, Simonsen HT, Boas U, Enemark HL, López-Muñoz R, Williams AR. Antiparasitic activity of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and its natural bioactive compounds in livestock: a review. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:475. [PMID: 30134991 PMCID: PMC6106872 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3012-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing drug resistance in gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of livestock and concerns about chemical residues in animal products and the environment are driving the development of alternative control strategies that are less reliant on the use of synthetic drugs. An increasingly investigated approach is the use of bioactive forages with antiparasitic properties as part of the animal's diet (nutraceuticals) or as potential sources of novel, natural parasiticides. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a multi-purpose crop and one of the most promising bioactive forages in temperate regions, and numerous in vivo trials have explored its potential against parasitic nematodes in livestock. However, it is unclear whether chicory can induce a direct and broad activity against various GI parasites in different livestock species, and the levels of chicory in the diet that are required to exert an efficient antiparasitic effect. Moreover, the mechanisms leading to the reported parasiticidal activity of chicory are still largely unknown, and its bioactive phytochemicals have only recently been investigated. In this review, we summarise the progress in the study of the antiparasitic activity of chicory and its natural bioactive compounds against GI parasites in livestock, through examination of the published literature. The available evidence indicates that feeding chicory can reduce faecal egg counts and/or worm burdens of abomasal nematodes, but not infections with intestinal worms, in ruminants. Highly chicory-rich diets (≥ 70% of chicory dry matter in the diet) may be necessary to directly affect abomasal parasitism. Chicory is known to synthesise several bioactive compounds with potential antiparasitic activity, but most research has been devoted to the role of sesquiterpene lactones (SL). Recent in vitro studies have confirmed direct and potent activity of SL-rich extracts from chicory against different GI helminths of livestock. Chicory SL have also been reported to exhibit antimalarial properties and its potential antiprotozoal activity in livestock remains to be evaluated. Furthermore, the detailed identification of the main antiparasitic metabolites of chicory and their pharmacokinetics need further confirmation. Research gaps and perspectives on the potential use of chicory as a nutraceutical forage and a source of bioactive compounds for parasite control in livestock are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Peña-Espinoza
- Instituto de Farmacologia y Morfofisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Angela H. Valente
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Stig M. Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Henrik T. Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Boas
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Heidi L. Enemark
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, P.O. Box 750, N-0106 Oslo, Sentrum Norway
| | - Rodrigo López-Muñoz
- Instituto de Farmacologia y Morfofisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Andrew R. Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) as a novel method for absolute quantification of major gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Vet Parasitol 2018; 261:1-8. [PMID: 30253846 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present for the first time a new tool, based on Droplet Digital™ Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), for absolute quantification of key genera of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode parasites of grazing livestock. Four combinations of primers/probe sets targeting the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) of the ribosomal RNA gene array were designed using the Primer3 software, following in silico analysis of nucleotide sequences from nematodes of interest downloaded from common databases. The amplified regions include both a universal region for detection of any strongylid gastrointestinal parasite and three different genus specific regions, making it possible to differentiate between the most important GI nematodes of sheep in Sweden: Haemonchus, Teladorsagia and Trichostrongylus. Analysis of samples containing serial dilutions and different mixtures of genomic DNA extracted from different species of adult worms proved useful in assessment of different threshold settings with the QuantaSoft software. Analysis of template DNA from these worms indicated that ddPCR is a viable choice for detection and absolute quantification of the different genera and also in samples with multiple species. Interpretation of the ddPCR results was straightforward and choice of analytical approach had little influence on the final results. Thus, the results obtained in the different analytical approaches seemed to be robust and the concentrations determined were uniform. Furthermore, the linear range of the Haemonchus ddPCR assay was similar to that of real-time PCR (qPCR). Taken together, our data confirm the suitability of ddPCR for detection and absolute quantification of three major sheep pathogens when tested on larval cultures from pooled ovine faeces. The results also indicate that ddPCR can be a useful complement to applications based on conventional egg counting methods such as the faecal egg reduction test (FECRT).
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Weight gain and resistance to gastrointestinal nematode infections in two genetically diverse groups of cattle. Vet Parasitol 2018; 249:88-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Avramenko RW, Redman EM, Lewis R, Bichuette MA, Palmeira BM, Yazwinski TA, Gilleard JS. The use of nemabiome metabarcoding to explore gastro-intestinal nematode species diversity and anthelmintic treatment effectiveness in beef calves. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:893-902. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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Gastrointestinal parasites of captive European bison Bison bonasus (L.) with a sign of reduced efficacy of Haemonchus contortus to fenbendazole. Parasitol Res 2017; 117:295-302. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5663-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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An automated, multiplex-tandem PCR platform for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle: An Australian-European validation study. Vet Parasitol 2017; 239:62-75. [PMID: 28495199 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Detecting the genera and species of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections in faecal samples obtained from cattle requires the incubation of faeces ('larval culture') followed by identification of the third-stage larvae that are harvested after 10-14days. Substantial research in the development of PCR-based methods for the rapid and specific identification GI nematodes has been conducted for small ruminants, whilst only few such assays have been developed for cattle. In the present paper we describe the development of an automated, robotic PCR platform for the detection and genus and/or species-specific identification of GI nematodes from bovine faecal samples. This test was then validated using samples from different regions of three countries (Australia, Belgium and Scotland). The PCR platform was found to be highly sensitive and specific for the identification of the important GI nematodes in naturally infected cattle (both estimates >90%). The PCR platform can also estimate the percentage of genera or species present in a mixed-species infection, and was found superior to larval culture in terms of speed (1-2days versus 1-2 weeks for culture), sensitivity and specificity. The PCR was simple to use and the operator requires no knowledge or experience to identify the nematodes present, compared to larval culture where even experienced operators can make substantial errors due to considerable overlap in the published characteristics of key species.
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Peña-Espinoza M, Thamsborg SM, Denwood MJ, Drag M, Hansen TV, Jensen VF, Enemark HL. Efficacy of ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Denmark evaluated by different methods for analysis of faecal egg count reduction. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2016; 6:241-250. [PMID: 27835769 PMCID: PMC5107639 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) against gastrointestinal nematodes in Danish cattle was assessed by faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Six cattle farms with history of clinical parasitism and avermectin use were included. On the day of treatment (Day 0), 20 naturally infected calves per farm (total n = 120) were stratified by initial faecal egg counts (FEC) and randomly allocated to a treatment group dosed with 0.2 mg IVM kg-1 body weight s.c. (IVM; n = 10) or an untreated control group (CTL; n = 10). Individual FEC were obtained at Day 0 and Day 14 post-treatment and pooled faeces by group were cultured to isolate L3 for detection of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora by qPCR. Treatment efficacies were analysed using the recommended WAAVP method and two open-source statistical procedures based on Bayesian modelling: 'eggCounts' and 'Bayescount'. A simulation study evaluated the performance of the different procedures to correctly identify FEC reduction percentages of simulated bovine FEC data representing the observed real data. In the FECRT, reduced IVM efficacy was detected in three farms by all procedures using data from treated animals only, and in one farm according to the procedures including data from treated and untreated cattle. Post-treatment, O. ostertagi and C. oncophora L3 were detected by qPCR in faeces of treated animals from one and three herds with declared reduced IVM efficacy, respectively. Based on the simulation study, all methods showed a reduced performance when FEC aggregation increased post-treatment and suggested that a treatment group of 10 animals is insufficient for the FECRT in cattle. This is the first report of reduced anthelmintic efficacy in Danish cattle and warrants the implementation of larger surveys. Advantages and caveats regarding the use of Bayesian modelling and the relevance of including untreated cattle in the FECRT are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Peña-Espinoza
- Section for Bacteriology, Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Stig M Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Matthew J Denwood
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Markus Drag
- Section for Bacteriology, Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Tina V Hansen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Vibeke F Jensen
- Section for Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Heidi L Enemark
- Section for Bacteriology, Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, PO Box 750 Sentrum, N-0106, Oslo, Norway
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Drag M, Höglund J, Nejsum P, Thamsborg SM, Enemark HL. The level of embryonation influences detection of Ostertagia ostertagi eggs by semi-quantitative PCR. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:368. [PMID: 27357701 PMCID: PMC4928311 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1657-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) is a candidate diagnostic marker of the pathogenic cattle nematode Ostertagia ostertagi. The aims of this study were: (i) to document and quantify how the development of O. ostertagi eggs affects ITS2 copies under different storage conditions, and (ii) to suggest optimal storage conditions for faecal samples in a diagnostic pipeline that involves detection and semi-quantification by real-time semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). FINDINGS Eggs of Ostertagia ostertagi were obtained from fresh faeces and stored at 4 °C or 25 °C under aerobic or anaerobic (vacuum packing) conditions. Development was monitored by microscopy for up to 336 h, and the ITS2 copies were determined by qPCR from a fixed number of parasites. Under aerobic conditions at 25 °C, embryonation and a significant increase of ITS2 copies (P < 0.0001) were observed after 12 h. At 4 °C, embryonation occurred after 168 h with a trend towards increased ITS2 copies. Anaerobic conditions inhibited egg development at both temperatures and no significant increase in ITS2 copies was noticed (P = 0.90). ITS2 copies were analysed for each parasite stage: first-stage larvae (L1) exhibited significantly higher copy numbers (20,353 ± 1,950) than unembryonated eggs (568 ± 168; P < 0.0001) with lower coefficient of variation (33 vs 266 %). CONCLUSIONS Aerobic storage of O. ostertagi eggs at 25 °C led to a significant increase in ITS2 copies after 12 h due to embryonation and subsequent hatching. In contrast, anaerobic storage (vacuum packing) at 25 °C completely inhibited egg development and any undesirable semi-quantification bias for up to 336 h. Hence, vacuum packing is an optimal storage strategy prior to molecular diagnostic analyses. Alternatively, aerobic storage at 4 °C for up to 72 h can be used. Due to high copy numbers and lower genetic variation, the L1 stage may be considered for diagnostics and further molecular research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Drag
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. .,Section for Bacteriology, Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Nejsum
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Stig M Thamsborg
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Heidi L Enemark
- Section for Bacteriology, Pathology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.,Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 750 Sentrum, Oslo, N-0106, Norway
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Besier RB, Kahn LP, Sargison ND, Van Wyk JA. Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Haemonchus contortus in Small Ruminants. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2016; 93:181-238. [PMID: 27238006 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic, blood-feeding nematode of small ruminants, and a significant cause of mortalities worldwide. Haemonchosis is a particularly significant threat in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions, where warm and moist conditions favour the free-living stages, but periodic outbreaks occur more widely during periods of transient environmental favourability. The clinical diagnosis of haemonchosis is based mostly on the detection of anaemia in association with a characteristic epidemiological picture, and confirmed at postmortem by the finding of large numbers of H. contortus in the abomasum. The detection of impending haemonchosis relies chiefly on periodic monitoring for anaemia, including through the 'FAMACHA' conjunctival-colour index, or through faecal worm egg counts and other laboratory procedures. A range of anthelmintics for use against H. contortus is available, but in most endemic situations anthelmintic resistance significantly limits the available treatment options. Effective preventative programmes vary depending on environments and enterprise types, and according to the scale of the haemonchosis risk and the local epidemiology of infections, but should aim to prevent disease outbreaks while maintaining anthelmintic efficacy. Appropriate strategies include animal management programmes to avoid excessive H. contortus challenge, genetic and nutritional approaches to enhance resistance and resilience to infection, and the monitoring of H. contortus infection on an individual animal or flock basis. Specific strategies to manage anthelmintic resistance centre on the appropriate use of effective anthelmintics, and refugia-based treatment schedules. Alternative approaches, such as biological control, may also prove useful, and vaccination against H. contortus appears to have significant potential in control programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R B Besier
- Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, Albany, WA, Australia
| | - L P Kahn
- University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - N D Sargison
- University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - J A Van Wyk
- University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
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22
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Reichel MP, Lanyon SR, Hill FI. Moving past serology: Diagnostic options without serum. Vet J 2016; 215:76-81. [PMID: 27160006 PMCID: PMC7110768 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Traditional serology has moved beyond blood as a test medium. A number of different samples and tissues are now frequently used in veterinary diagnosis. Testing can be robust and accurate and opens up the field to a variety of new opportunities. Molecular testing allows direct testing for the agent on a variety of tissues and samples, and pools. Pooling of samples can allow for more efficient and cost-effective testing.
Detecting antibodies formed in serum in response to infection is the traditional function of serology. Diagnostic modalities have included complement fixation tests, agar gel immune-diffusion, radioimmunoassay, ELISA and immunofluorescence. More recent technology now allows for the direct detection of pathogens by PCR. This review details the options for diagnostic testing using specimen types other than serum, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of these options and providing evidence for more widespread use of these techniques and specimen types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Reichel
- School of Veterinary Medicine, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5371, Australia.
| | - Sasha R Lanyon
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5371, Australia
| | - Fraser I Hill
- Gribbles Veterinary, PO Box 536, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand
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23
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Avramenko RW, Redman EM, Lewis R, Yazwinski TA, Wasmuth JD, Gilleard JS. Exploring the Gastrointestinal "Nemabiome": Deep Amplicon Sequencing to Quantify the Species Composition of Parasitic Nematode Communities. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143559. [PMID: 26630572 PMCID: PMC4668017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic helminth infections have a considerable impact on global human health as well as animal welfare and production. Although co-infection with multiple parasite species within a host is common, there is a dearth of tools with which to study the composition of these complex parasite communities. Helminth species vary in their pathogenicity, epidemiology and drug sensitivity and the interactions that occur between co-infecting species and their hosts are poorly understood. We describe the first application of deep amplicon sequencing to study parasitic nematode communities as well as introduce the concept of the gastro-intestinal “nemabiome”. The approach is analogous to 16S rDNA deep sequencing used to explore microbial communities, but utilizes the nematode ITS-2 rDNA locus instead. Gastro-intestinal parasites of cattle were used to develop the concept, as this host has many well-defined gastro-intestinal nematode species that commonly occur as complex co-infections. Further, the availability of pure mono-parasite populations from experimentally infected cattle allowed us to prepare mock parasite communities to determine, and correct for, species representation biases in the sequence data. We demonstrate that, once these biases have been corrected, accurate relative quantitation of gastro-intestinal parasitic nematode communities in cattle fecal samples can be achieved. We have validated the accuracy of the method applied to field-samples by comparing the results of detailed morphological examination of L3 larvae populations with those of the sequencing assay. The results illustrate the insights that can be gained into the species composition of parasite communities, using grazing cattle in the mid-west USA as an example. However, both the technical approach and the concept of the ‘nemabiome’ have a wide range of potential applications in human and veterinary medicine. These include investigations of host-parasite and parasite-parasite interactions during co-infection, parasite epidemiology, parasite ecology and the response of parasite populations to both drug treatments and control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell W. Avramenko
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M. Redman
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Roy Lewis
- Merck Animal Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Thomas A. Yazwinski
- Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - James D. Wasmuth
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - John S. Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Roeber F, Kahn L. The specific diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode infections in livestock: larval culture technique, its limitations and alternative DNA-based approaches. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:619-28. [PMID: 25182210 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The specific diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants is routinely based on larval culture technique and on the morphological identification of developed third-stage larvae. However, research on the ecology and developmental requirements of different species suggests that environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) for optimal development to occur vary between the different species. Thus, employing a common culture protocol for all species will favour the development of certain species over others and can cause a biased result in particular when species proportions in a mixed infection are to be determined. Furthermore, the morphological identification of L3 larvae is complicated by a lack of distinctive, obvious features that would allow the identification of all key species. In the present paper we review in detail the potential limitations of larval culture technique and morphological identification and provide account to some modern molecular alternatives to the specific diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode infection in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Roeber
- AusDiagnostics Pty. Ltd., Beaconsfield 2015, NSW, Australia.
| | - Lewis Kahn
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale 2351, NSW, Australia
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25
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Charlier J, van der Voort M, Kenyon F, Skuce P, Vercruysse J. Chasing helminths and their economic impact on farmed ruminants. Trends Parasitol 2014; 30:361-7. [PMID: 24888669 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Global agriculture will be required to intensify production from a shrinking natural resource base. Helminth infections of ruminants are a major constraint on efficient livestock production. The current challenge is to develop diagnostic methods that detect the production impact of helminth infections on farms in order to target control measures and contribute to the global challenge of preserving food security. We review here our understanding of the effects of helminth infections and control practices on productivity and the diagnostic tools that can inform on this. By combining advances in helminth laboratory diagnostics and animal health economics, sustainable management of helminth infections can be integrated into the whole-farm economic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Charlier
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Mariska van der Voort
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Social Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 115, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bio-Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Fiona Kenyon
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Philip Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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26
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A multiplex PCR-based method to identify strongylid parasite larvae recovered from ovine faecal cultures and/or pasture samples. Vet Parasitol 2014; 200:117-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Areskog M, Sollenberg S, Engström A, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Höglund J. A controlled study on gastrointestinal nematodes from two Swedish cattle farms showing field evidence of ivermectin resistance. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:13. [PMID: 24401545 PMCID: PMC3892011 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is an increasing problem for the ruminant livestock sector worldwide. However, the extent of the problem is still relatively unknown, especially for parasitic nematodes of cattle. The effect of ivermectin (IVM) (Ivomec inj.®, Merial) was investigated in Swedish isolates of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) populations showing signs of AR in the field to further characterise the AR status by a range of in vivo and in vitro methods. METHODS Three groups, each of 11 calves, were infected with an equal mixture of third stage larvae (L3) of Cooperia oncophora and Ostertagia ostertagi. Group A was inoculated with an IVM-susceptible laboratory isolate and groups B and C with isolates originating from 'resistant' cattle farms. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were monitored from 0 to 45 days post infection (d.p.i.), and L3 were harvested continuously for larval migration inhibition testing (LMIT) and species-specific PCR (ITS2). At 31 d.p.i., one calf from each group was necropsied and adult worms were recovered pre-treatment. At 35 d.p.i., calves from all groups were injected with IVM at the recommended dose (0.2 mg/kg bodyweight). At 45 d.p.i., another two animals from each group were sacrificed and established gastrointestinal worms were collected and counted. RESULTS A few animals in all three groups were still excreting eggs (50-150 per g faeces) 10 days post IVM injection. However, there was no significant difference in the FEC reductions in groups A (95%; 95% CI 81-99), B (98%; 92-100) and C (99%; 97-100) between 35 and 44 d.p.i. Furthermore, LMIT showed no significant difference between the three groups. Approximately 100 adult O. ostertagi were found in the abomasum of one calf (group B), whereas low to moderate numbers (400-12 200) of C. oncophora remained in the small intestine of the calves in all three groups at 45 d.p.i. PCR on L3 harvested from faecal samples up to 10 days post treatment showed a ratio of 100% C. oncophora in the calves inoculated with isolates A and B, whereas C also had 8% O. ostertagi. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this experiment showed that the animals were successfully treated according to the Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) standard (≥ 95% reduction). However, several adult worms of the dose-limiting species C. oncophora demonstrably survived the IVM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Areskog
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | - Sofia Sollenberg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | - Annie Engström
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | | | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
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Areskog M, Ljungström B, Höglund J. Limited efficacy of pour-on anthelmintic treatment of cattle under Swedish field conditions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2013; 3:129-34. [PMID: 24533302 PMCID: PMC3862419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2013.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The use of topical formulations of macrocyclic lactones has increased in Sweden. Anthelmintic efficacy of topical ML under Swedish field conditions is insufficient. Cooperia oncophora was the predominant species surviving deworming. Herds that require treatment can be identified by faecal samples, 4–6 weeks after turnout. Swedish beef herds should be considered for GIN control to a greater extent than is done today.
A study on the effect of topical macrocyclic lactones (ML) against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in Swedish first season grazing cattle (FSG) was performed during the grazing seasons of 2009 and 2010. Herds were recruited through farming press and both dairy and beef cattle farms were invited. A questionnaire revealed that 64% of participating farmers dewormed their animals in previous years, and of these 76% used topical formulations with ML. Four to six weeks after turnout, 107 (2009) and 64 (2010) farmers sent in individual faecal samples from 6–10 FSG. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined by the FECPAK®-method in 2009 and the McMaster-method in 2010, when also larvae were cultured. Average FEC of ⩾100 eggs per gram faeces (EPG) was seen in 39% of the herds in 2009 and 42% in 2010 and with arithmetic means of 258 ± 110 and 252 ± 350 EPG, respectively. Interestingly, FSG in dairy and beef herds had similar mean FEC. In herds with mean FEC of ⩾100 EPG, farmers dewormed all FSG in the tested grazing group with ivermectin (IVM) or doramectin (DOR) pour-on. In 2009, 33 (31%), and in 2010, 26 (40%) of the herds were retested 7–16 days post treatment. Mean reduction was 89% and 88%, respectively, and in only 12 (36%) and 10 (38%) herds it was ⩾95%. Beef herds had mean reductions similar to those of the dairy herds. No significant difference (P = 0.66) in reduction was seen between the groups treated with three different pour-on formulations, nor was there any correlation between the previous year’s usage of anthelmintics and the efficacy. Larvae from post-treatment cultures analysed in 2010 with a species-specific ITS2 qPCR showed that Cooperia oncophora was the predominant species after deworming. Four (15%) groups also harboured surviving Ostertagia ostertagi post treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Areskog
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
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