Roadmap for nematode control strategies

What is the importance of genetic diversity to nematode control and how can molecular typing help to elucidate epidemiology, especially gene flow between populations and the establishment and detection of anthelmintic resistance?

In contrast to their application in viral and bacterial infections, population genetic studies have been a relatively underexploited approach to unravel host-parasite interactions and co-evolution, despite their potential to add insights to epidemiology and control.

Further develop methods for and studies of population genetic structure for the major nematodes of ruminants and pigs and apply them in local studies and on isolates collected from across the world, including populations from wildlife.

Parasite genome sequences will facilitate selection of appropriate genetic markers for population studies.

The population genetic structure of nematode species has important implications for evolutionary processes such as adaptation to host defences and the development of AR. Despite some foundation work, surprisingly little is known about the population genetic structure of most species of parasitic nematodes in livestock. Widespread livestock movement at a range of scales is common and normally undertaken with little or no monitoring or effective quarantine measures against nematode parasites. Wildlife, such as rabbits, hares, deer and others, may act as reservoirs and transporters of certain nematode infections and may conversely contribute to refugia. Population genetic studies can help unravel the scale and drivers of parasite movements between farms and their role relative to on-farm factors in selection for AR.