Livestock parasites and alternative control

Anthelmintic resistance is an increasing problem in modern livestock production and is a major driving force for alternative control.

We are current exploring nematode destroying fungi, plant-based medicines and pre-/probiotics.

Another driver for non-chemotherapeutic approaches is the persistent parasite problems of organic livestock production in Europe and resource-poor farming communities in developing countries (in collaboration with PARZOO).

Sustainable control is therefore our main research focus, and we presently investigate the following approaches:

• bioactive plants and their products,
• biological control using fungi degrading parasite eggs and larvae,
• better use of existing drugs based on pharmacokinetics and identifying genetic markers associated with parasite resistance in the host.

 One of our major interests is to increase our knowledge of farm management and parasite transmission (temperate and tropical environments), and thereby identifying hygienic measures that can contribute to parasite control.