Control of Haemonchus contortus in calves
Haemanchus contortus is a significant livestock parasite that survives by sucking the host’s blood. It is estimated that an adult parasite can suck up to 30µl of blood in a day. Consequently, the host rapidly develops into anemia. Haemonchus contortus is a nematode nemesis often in the small ruminant production systems in the tropical as well as the subtropical regions globally. The Haemonchus contortus reputation emanates from a combination of high fecundity as well as a short generational interval. This can offer desirable developmental flexibility for adaptation as well as to control measures.
Controlling Haemonchus contortus is essential in improving livestock production. The current control has based the use of anthelmintics. However, drug resistance poses a great challenge. Moreover, the rising demand for chemical-free meat makes anthelmintics treatment unreliable. The future prospects for Haemontus contortus should address the underlying challenges (Basseto, 2011).
The control of Haemontus contortus requires short-term observance and monitoring of the same. Besides, the control requires long-term planning through control programs that incorporate the use of animals that exhibit superior nematode resilience or resistance. The molecular tools should be increasingly applied, decreasing the costs of treatment. For the implementation of worm-resistant stock, endemic Haemonchus contortus has ensured that worm-resistance features more subjectively in selection indices. However, the promise of genetic, biomarkers, as well as gene expression to enhance selection have not been established. Monitoring the robustness of harmonious contortus can be achieved by customer profiling the molecular testing. Consequently, this could be a foundation by which diverse control strategies can be compared, aiming for a decline in heterogeneity assessed decreased allelic diversity as well as effective population size (Emery et al. 2016). In a nutshell, the prospect in controlling Haemnchus contortus relies on methods that apply customer profiling of the molecular testing techniques applied in gene expression.
References
Bassetto, C. C. (2011). Proteção de bovinos contra Haemonchus placei e Haemonchus contortus após imunização com antígenos oriundos da membrana intestinal de H. contortus.
Emery, D. L., Hunt, P. W., & Le Jambre, L. F. (2016). Haemonchus contortus: the then and now, and where to from here?. International Journal for Parasitology, 46(12), 755-769.