Exploring the complex world of parasites in wildlife and livestock

Background

Grazing animals, from sheep to deer, are constantly exposed to a variety of GINs. These parasites can affect the host health negatively and economic losses for livestock industries worldwide. After decades of overuse of anthelmintic drugs, anthelmintic drug resistance is on the rise, just like antibiotic resistance is an issue. Understanding how these parasites spread and interact across different host species is crucial for developing effective control strategies.

Project Overview

The study focuses on characterizing the nemabiome - the full community of nematode parasites - in various wild and domestic ruminants across Sweden. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, we will investigate how factors such as host species and host species specificity, environment, and management practices shape these parasite communities.

Key aspects of the research include:

1. Network Analysis of Cross-Species Infections: The projekt aims to examine how GINs spread between different animal species in shared grazing areas, with a particular focus on fenced wildlife pastures where species like red deer, fallow deer, and mouflon coexist.
2. Anthelmintic Resistance Tracking: With modelling of parasite transmission, the aim is to understand how resistance spreads between locations and host species. This knowledge is critical for maintaining the effectiveness of parasite control measures.
3. Nemabiome Characterization: The species richness in the nemabiomes of various ruminants, including sheep, roedeer, moose, and reindeer, across different regions of Sweden. This will help us identify patterns in parasite dispersal and host specificity, providing valuable insights for both wildlife management and livestock husbandry.

Aim with this project

The overall aim is to contribute to more sustainable and effective parasite management strategies, benefiting both animal welfare and agricultural productivity.