Project Overview
Commodities
- Animal Products: dairy, meat
Practices
- Animal Production: animal protection and health, parasite control
Proposal abstract:
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN), specifically Haemonchus contortus, is the main constraint affecting small ruminant production world-wide. The indiscriminate use of chemical anthelmintics to control H. contortus has led to an increased prevalence of GIN anthelmintic resistance, which reduces profitability to the small ruminant industry. In order to effectively control internal parasites, it is imperative that the current level of anthelmintic resistance is determined on small ruminant farms. The DrenchRite® Assay is the most effective technique currently available to detect drug resistance in small ruminant parasites and determine resistance status for all available drug classes used for parasite control. The proposed project will utilize the larval development assay (DrenchRite® Assay) to characterize the levels of gastrointestinal nematode resistance on small ruminant farms in Delaware. The results from this study will be used to inform producers of the actual status of GIN resistance and of anthelmintics that are more effective on their farm. This study will generate data that will update the information on anthelmintic resistance in Delaware. Results will be distributed to animal scientists, extension agents, and producers through presentations at scientific meetings, workshops, newsletter and publications.
Project objectives from proposal:
To utilize the larval development assay (DrenchRite® Assay) to characterize the levels of gastrointestinal nematode resistance on small ruminant farms in Delaware.
The in vitro larval development assay method will be used to determine levels of anthelmintic resistance in small ruminant GIN populations in Delaware. This is an alternative to the laborious task of performing fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) in order to determine GIN resistance in small ruminants. The results from this objective will be used to educate producers of the resistance levels in Delaware and to identify the most effective drug that can be used to treat small ruminant parasites in Delaware.