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Parasite Control

About Parasite Control

SEFARI responsive opportunity fund project: Creating interactive information for farmers.

There is lots of information available on the sustainable and effective control of roundworms from a wide range of sources. We have pulled together a directory of useful links providing information on the topics listed below.

Effective anthelmintic use

Using anthelmintics correctly prevents underdosing, a key factor in the development of anthelmintic resistance.

Table of links to information and guides on effective anthelmintic administration:

Title Organisation Web Link
Worm control in sheep for better returns Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) https://bit.ly/3qw9Jyh
Worm control in sheep (PDF) Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) https://bit.ly/3t57NP1
7 steps to setting up a worm control strategy in sheep Farmers Weekly https://bit.ly/3rFW6OE
Sustainable control of worms in sheep (PDF) Sheep Veterinary Society https://bit.ly/3HPmsp0
Worming Country Vets http://bit.ly/2OhPuHD
Farmer Behavior and Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Ruminant Livestock—Uptake of Sustainable Control Approaches Frontiers in Science https://bit.ly/3epWm0n
Breeding for resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes – the potential in low-input/output small ruminant production systems Veterinary Parasitology (via Science Direct) http://bit.ly/3rMhuln
The role of targeted selective treatments in the development of refugia-based approaches to the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants Veterinary Parasitology (via Science Direct) http://bit.ly/30thevx
Anthelmintic resistance of gastrointestinal cattle nematodes University of Gent http://bit.ly/3cboQYI
Anthelmintic resistance to ivermectin and moxidectin in gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Europe International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance (via Science Direct) http://bit.ly/3rM3YxK
Anthelmintic resistance and responsible use in livestock policy statement British Veterinary Society https://bit.ly/3j35G8X
What is the current situation with sheep and goat nematodes? Veterinary Practice https://bit.ly/2PQCN77

 

Quarantine

One of the key methods of protecting the efficacy of anthelmintics on farm is to avoid importing resistance by employing effective quarantine to all new and returning stock.

Title Organisation Web Link
Worm control in sheep for better returns Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) https://bit.ly/3qw9Jyh
Worm control in sheep Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) https://bit.ly/3t57NP1
Best practice guide for fluke and worm control in sheep (PDF) Norbrook https://bit.ly/3l2owQ2
Understanding worms Elanco http://bit.ly/3cjbMRh
7 steps to setting up a worm control strategy in sheep Farmers Weekly http://bit.ly/3rFW6OE
Sustainable control of worms in sheep (PDF) Sheep Veterinary Society https://bit.ly/3e9Ajus
Worming County Vets http://bit.ly/2OikpDG
What is the current situation with sheep and goat nematodes? Veterinary Practice http://bit.ly/2PQCN77

 

Refugia

Refugia describes the worm population on farm which is unexposed to treatment – e.g. worms on pasture and those residing in untreated animals. It is important to maintain a diverse refugia of worms on farm as these will dilute any resistant worms which survive anthelmintic treatment, slowing down the development of resistance on farm.

 

Title Organisation Web link
Worm control in sheep for Better Returns Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) http://bit.ly/3qw9Jyh
Worm control in sheep (PDF) Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) https://bit.ly/3t57NP1
Sustainable control of worms in sheep Sheep Veterinary Society https://bit.ly/3e9Ajus
Mind the gaps in research on the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of farmed ruminants and pigs (PDF) Veterinary Parasitology https://bit.ly/3bzhQpO
Refugia and anthelmintic resistance: Concepts and challenges International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance (via Science Direct) http://bit.ly/3vezoiO
Practices to optimise gastrointestinal nematode control on sheep, goat and cattle farms in Europe using targeted (selective) treatments The Veterinary Record (via Research Gate) https://bit.ly/30wVBKO
Farmer Behaviour and Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Ruminant Livestock – Uptake of Sustainable Control Approaches Frontiers in Veterinary Science https://bit.ly/3epWm0n
The role of targeted selective treatments in the development of refugia-based approaches to the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants (PDF) Veterinary Parasitology https://bit.ly/2PnWbbd

 

Anthelmintic strategies

Working out when to give anthelmintics can be difficult. Including targeted selective treatments (TST), targeted treatment (TT), the strategic use of long-acting products and using the new drug classes to perform ‘break doses’.

Title Organisation Web Link Strategy
Worm control in sheep for better returns Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) https://bit.ly/3qw9Jyh Multiple topics
Worm control in sheep (PDF) Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) https://bit.ly/3t57NP1 Long acting
Understanding worms Elanco http://bit.ly/3cjbMRh Break dose
7 steps to setting up a worm control strategy in sheep Farmers Weekly http://bit.ly/3rFW6OE Dose and move
Mind the gaps in research on the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of farmed ruminants and pigs Transboundary and Emerging Diseases (via Wiley Online Library) bit.ly/30w2gos Multiple topics
Refugia and anthelmintic resistance: Concepts and challenges International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance (via Science Direct) http://bit.ly/3vezoiO TST/TT
Practices to optimise gastrointestinal nematode control on sheep, goat and cattle farms in Europe using targeted (selective) treatments The Veterinary Record (via Research Gate) https://bit.ly/30wVBKO TST/TT
Farmer Behaviour and Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Ruminant Livestock – Uptake of Sustainable Control Approaches Frontiers in Veterinary Science https://bit.ly/3epWm0n Multiple topics
The role of targeted selective treatments in the development of refugia-based approaches to the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants (PDF) Veterinary Parasitology https://bit.ly/2PnWbbd TST/TT

 

Alternative strategies

With the advancement of anthelmintic resistance in the UK and worldwide, alternative roundworm control strategies can be integrated into farm management practices to reduce reliance on anthelmintics. Alternative strategies include grazing management, selective breeding of sheep/cattle for parasite resilience and forages which provide anthelmintic properties.

Our Experts

Dave Bartley

(PhD)

Stewart Burgess

(PhD)

Philip Skuce

(BSc, PhD)

Beth Wells

(PhD)

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