Physiology, pharmacology and parasitology

Area of Science:

• Veterinary pharmacology and toxicology
• Animal health and production
• Parasitology

Background:

• Growing resistance to broad-spectrum anthelmintics and insecticides poses a significant threat to the animal health industry.
• Development of new antiparasitic drugs is hindered by high R&D costs and small market shares, especially in Australia and New Zealand.
• Alternative strategies like vaccines and breeding for parasite resistance are not immediate solutions and will likely complement chemotherapy.

Discussion:

• Existing chemical antiparasitics must be used more efficiently to combat resistance.
• Understanding antiparasitic pharmacokinetics and host physiology is crucial for optimizing drug action.
• Strategic administration, such as reducing feed intake before oral anthelmintics, enhances drug availability and efficacy.

Key Insights:

• Careful administration of oral anthelmintics (benzimidazoles, ivermectin) increases drug availability and efficacy.
• Topical insecticides applied post-shearing along the backline ensure even diffusion for effective parasite control.
• Intelligent formulation and delivery of existing antiparasitics, informed by host responses, are vital.

Outlook:

• Optimized use of current antiparasitics can extend the lifespan of existing and new drugs.
• This approach offers a cost-effective strategy to manage parasite resistance in food-producing animals.
• Further research into host-parasite interactions can lead to more effective antiparasitic treatments.