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P J Waller

Publications and source records attributed to P J Waller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A field study on the effect of some anthelmintics on cyathostomins of horses in sweden.

The objective of the study was to investigate different aspects on the efficacy of three anthelmintics on cyathostomin nematodes of Swedish horses. A faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test was performed on 26 farms. Horses were treated orally with recommended doses of ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate or fenbendazole. Faecal samples were collected on the day of deworming and 7, 14 and 21 days later. No resistance was shown against ivermectin; the FECR was constantly >99%. The effect of pyrantel was assessed as equivocal in 6 farms 14 days after treatment; the mean FECR was 99%. As many as 72% of the fenbendazole-treated groups met the criteria for resistance; the mean FECR was 86%, ranging from 56% to 100%. A re-investigation of two farms where pyrantel resistance had been suspected clearly revealed unsatisfactory efficacy of pyrantel on one of these farms; the FECR varied from 72% to 89%. Twenty-six of the horses previously dosed with pyrantel or fenbendazole, and which still excreted >/=150 eggs per gram of faeces 14 days after treatment, were dewormed with ivermectin and fenbendazole or pyrantel in order to eliminate the remaining cyathostomins. A total of 13 cyathostomin species were identified from horses that initially received fenbendazole and seven species were identified from pyrantel-treated individuals. The egg reappearance period (ERP) following treatment with ivermectin and pyrantel was investigated on two farms. The shortest ERP after ivermectin treatment was 8 weeks and after pyrantel was 5 weeks. We conclude that no substantial reversion to benzimidazole susceptibility had taken place, although these drugs have scarcely been used (<5%) in horses for the last 10 years. Pyrantel-resistant populations of cyathostomins are present on Swedish horse farms, but the overall efficacy of pyrantel is still acceptable.

Animals↗

A 3-year field evaluation of pasture rotation and supplementary feeding to control parasite infection in first-season grazing cattle--effects on animal performance.

To evaluate non-chemical strategies to control pasture-borne parasites in first-season grazing (FSG) cattle, a 3-year grazing trial was conducted during 2002-2004 on naturally infected pastures on a commercial beef cattle farm in Sweden. A uniform pasture was divided in 4 equal 2 ha paddocks onto each of which 10, 5-9 months old dairy breed steer calves were allocated at turn-out in May each year. Two strategies were evaluated: (1) turn-out onto pasture which had been grazed the previous year by second-season grazing (SSG) steers, followed by a move to aftermath in mid-July (RT) and (2) supplementation with concentrate and roughage for 4 weeks from turn-out (FD). Comparisons were made with an untreated (UT), and an anthelmintic treated control group (DO). Animal parasitology and performance were monitored monthly throughout the 20 weeks grazing period. Additional sampling occasions were performed on day 9 (for coccidia) and 10 weeks after turn-out (mid-July). Due to clinical parasitic gastro-enteritis (PGE), salvage treatments were performed on all animals in group FD approximately 7 weeks after turn-out in 2003 and of three animals in group UT 5 weeks after turn-out in 2004. In 2003, the geometric mean oocyst excretion 9 days after turn-out was approximately 150,000 opg of mainly Eimeria alabamensis in group FD, and in 2004 approximately 180,000 opg in group UT. Apart from the DO group, geometric mean faecal egg counts (FEC) were between 80 and 400 epg 4 weeks after turn-out. Mean serum pepsinogen concentrations (SPC) of approximately 3.6 U tyrosine were recorded in the FD and UT groups from late August 2002. In 2003 and 2004, mean concentrations in these groups were between 4.1 and 7.2 U tyrosine 8 weeks after turn-out. By the end of the three grazing seasons the average weight gain difference compared to the DO group was for FD -29, -38 and -5 kg and for RT -4, -21 and +14 kg, and compared to the UT group -18, +2 and +22 for FD and +7, +19 and +41 kg for group RT. In conclusion, the rotation control strategy showed promising results, whereas the strategic feeding was poor from a parasite control standpoint.

Animals↗

Population dynamics of nematode parasites of reindeer in the sub-arctic.

Nematode parasite infections of semi-domestic reindeer grazing in their natural habitat in northern Finland were monitored for approximately 2 years. This was achieved by monthly faecal egg counts of male and female calves and adult females from an experimental reindeer herd, in addition to estimating the acquisition of nematode infection from pasture using tracer reindeer calves. The most abundant parasite was Ostertagia gruehneri in the worm counts of tracer animals and in faecal egg counts of adult female reindeer. Capillaria sp. eggs were detected in calves and adults, but Nematodirinae eggs were only recovered from calves. Faecal egg counts showed variations between months for each nematode species, with male and female calves shedding similar numbers of eggs. During each year, calves shed more Capillaria sp. eggs than adult female reindeer, but similar numbers of O. gruehneri eggs. Egg counts of O. gruehneri were more abundant in late summer-autumn (July-September), whereas Capillaria sp. and the Nematodirinae dominated the winter months (November-February). The seasonal trends of adult worm burdens of O. gruehneri in the tracers paralleled the egg count patterns. Capillaria sp. was not detected in tracer worm counts. Tracer worm burdens showed that the proportion of inhibited larvae of O. gruehneri and Nematodirinae steadily increased from spring to early winter, followed by a decline and a commensurate increase in the number of adult parasites in the second summer. This investigation showed that parasite transmission occurs continuously throughout the year for nematode parasites of reindeer in northern Finland.

Animals↗

From discovery to development: current industry perspectives for the development of novel methods of helminth control in livestock.

Despite the extraordinary success in the development of anthelmintics in the latter part of the last century, helminth parasites of domestic ruminants continue to pose the greatest infectious disease problem in grazing livestock systems worldwide. Newly emerged threats to continuing successful livestock production, particularly with small ruminants, are the failure of this chemotherapeutic arsenal due to the widespread development of anthelmintic resistance at a time when the likelihood of new products becoming commercially available seems more remote. Changing public attitudes with regards to animal welfare, food preferences and safety will also significantly impact on the ways in which livestock are managed and their parasites are controlled. Superimposed on this are changes in livestock demographics internationally, in response to evolving trade policies and demands for livestock products. In addition, is the apparently ever-diminishing numbers of veterinary parasitology researchers in both the public and private sectors. Industries, whether being the livestock industries, the public research industries, or the pharmaceutical industries that provide animal health products, must adapt to these changes. In the context of helminth control in ruminant livestock, the mind-set of 'suppression' needs to be replaced by 'management' of parasites to maintain long-term profitable livestock production. Existing effective chemical groups need to be carefully husbanded and non-chemotherapeutic methods of parasite control need to be further researched and adopted, if and when, they become commercially available. This will require veterinary parasitology researchers from both the public and private sectors to work in close co-operation to ensure 'sustainability' - not only of the livestock industries that they service - but also for their very own activities and enterprises.

Animal Welfare↗

Reindeer as hosts for nematode parasites of sheep and cattle.

The reindeer husbandry range of Scandinavia overlaps with sheep, goat, and cattle pastures. The aim of this study was to determine whether reindeer are suitable hosts for ovine or bovine nematode parasites, and thus may spread these parasites into the reindeer husbandry regions. To render worm-free, twelve 4-month-old male reindeer calves, six lambs, and six bovine calves were given ivermectin at 200 microg/kg body weight. Five weeks post-treatment, six reindeer calves were each artificially dosed with 10,000 third-stage larvae (L3) of gastrointestinal nematodes derived from sheep, and an additional six reindeer with L3 derived from cattle. Lambs and bovine calves received the same dose of ovine and bovine larvae as reindeer, from the same larval source, respectively. Faecal samples collected on five occasions after the larval dosing revealed that by the fourth week, all reindeer calves, lambs, and bovine calves were infected. Animals were slaughtered on days 40 (reindeer) or 47 (lambs and bovine calves) after the larval dosing. Reindeer calves were most susceptible to L3 derived from sheep. The overall mean intensity of Haemochus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, and Teladorsagia circumcincta, did not differ between reindeer and sheep; however, early fourth-stage larvae of H. contortus were more abundant in reindeer (p = 0.002). The establishment of bovine-derived Ostertagia ostertagi was similar in reindeer (62%) and bovine calves (57%), but larval inhibition was much higher in reindeer (91%, p < 0.001) than in cattle (31%). Very poor establishment of bovine derived Cooperia oncophora was recorded in reindeer calves (2%) compared with bovine calves (59%). These results show that young reindeer are susceptible hosts to the important gastrointestinal parasites of sheep (T. circumcincta, H. contortus) and cattle (O. ostertagi), as well as being a suitable host for T. axei.

Animals↗

Towards the eradication of Haemonchus contortus from sheep flocks in Sweden.

Previous studies have shown that between-year transmission of Haemonchus contortus in Swedish sheep flocks is almost entirely as over-wintered populations within housed animals, and not on pasture. This suggests that eradication of this parasite is a realistic possibility. Thus, two sheep farms with a history of H. contortus infection on the Swedish island of Oland were selected for study. During the winter housing period of 2003/2004 all ruminants (sheep and cattle) on both farms were treated with ivermectin. Monitoring by faecal egg counts and infective larval differentials of ewes and lambs for the subsequent two grazing seasons, together with total abomasal worm counts of 10 lambs from each farm at the end of the first grazing year, showed that this objective was achieved.

Animals↗

Assessment of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of sheep and goats owned by smallholder farmers in eastern Ethiopia.

The anthelmintic resistance status was investigated of nematode parasites of sheep and goats owned by smallholder farmers in communities that received breeding stock from a source where a high level of anthelmintic resistance has been reported. The investigation used the faecal egg count reduction technique, whereby suitable animals within each of eight separate communities were pooled to achieve the numbers required to conduct separate tests for both sheep and goats. Anthelmintics tested were albendazole (ABZ), tetramisole (TET), a combination (ABZ + TET) and ivermectin (IVM), at the manufacturers' recommended dose rates. Results showed that there was no evidence of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of either sheep an goats in any community. This indicates that dilution of resistant parasites imported with introduced breeding stock, and the low selection pressure imposed by the smallholder farmers themselves, has prevented anthelmintic resistance from emerging in nematode parasites of small ruminants in these communities.

Animals↗

Biological control of sheep parasites using Duddingtonia flagrans: trials on commercial farms in Sweden.

Trials were conducted on 3 commercial sheep farms in Sweden to assess the effect of administering spores of the nematode trapping fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, together with supplementary feed to lactating ewes for the first 6 weeks from turn-out on pastures in spring. Also control groups of ewes, receiving only feed supplement, were established on all 3 farms. Groups were monitored by intensive parasitological investigation. The ewes and their lambs were moved in late June to saved pastures for summer grazing, the lambs receiving an anthelmintic treatment at this time. After approximately 6 weeks on summer pasture the lambs were weaned, treated a second time with anthelmintic, and returned to their original lambing pastures for finishing. Decisions as to when lambs were to be marketed were entirely at the discretion of the farmer co-operators. No difference in lamb performance was found between the two treatments on all three farms. This was attributed to the high levels of nutrition initially of the ewes limiting their post-partum rise in nematode faecal egg counts in spring, which in turn resulted in low levels of nematode infection on pastures throughout the autumn period. Additionally, pastures were of good quality for the lambs during the finishing period, so they grew at optimal rates as far as the farmers were concerned.

Animal Husbandry↗

Daily feeding of fresh Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) for worm control in sheep.

This study was Conducted To Evaluate The Anthelmintic Effect Of Neem (azadirachta Indica) On Nematode Parasites Of Sheep. Twelve Santa Ines Cross Bred Sheep From A Government Farm were randomly selected and equally divided into control (n = 6) and treated groups (n =6). Faecal egg counts (FEC) using the modified McMaster technique and the FAMACHA score for assessing clinical anaemia were carried out daily and recorded for 6 weeks. At the end of the study all the animals were slaughtered and the total worm count (TWC) was done. The results of FEC showed that there was no significant difference between the control and treated group (p = 0.081). However, worm burden estimations showed that the number of parasites was significantly higher in the control group compared to the treated group (p < 0.05). This result indicated that feeding Neem had an effect on worm numbers in sheep, but was not reflected in their faecal egg counts. Further work is needed to reconfirm the effect of Neem on helminth infections of sheep.

Animals↗

Evaluation of biological control of sheep parasites using Duddingtonia flagrans under commercial farming conditions on the island of Gotland, Sweden.

Field trials, conducted over 3 consecutive years, were aimed at assessing farmer opinions of the practicality and effectiveness of using Duddingtonia flagrans to control nematode parasites in their flocks on the Swedish island of Gotland. These trials were also monitored by intensive parasitological investigation. On Gotland, lambing occurs in spring, and around mid-summer (late June), ewes and lambs are moved to saved pastures due to pasture deterioration caused by dry conditions. Weaned lambs are then returned to original lambing pastures in early autumn for finishing. One farm (B) was used for 2001-2003 and a second farm (N) was also used in 2002 and 2003. On each farm, two flocks (each of 20 ewes + twin lambs) were managed separately, namely: fungus group which received a daily supplement + fungal spores from lambing until the summer move (6 weeks) and: control group which received supplement only. For Farm B, the numbers of lambs that were marketed prior to the end of the grazing season, were 13, 18, 19 for the fungus treatment whereas corresponding numbers for the control treatment were 8, 16 and 11 for years 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. Final weights of the remaining lambs at the end of each year were also consistently heavier, and the numbers of lambs retained for finishing during winter were less, on the fungus treatment compared with the control treatment. On Farm N, similar results were recorded, with more lambs marketed earlier in the fungus group (25 and 19) compared with the control (19 and 15) in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The weights of the remaining lambs at the end of the trial in 2003 showed a 4.5 kg weight gain advantage of the fungus group compared to the controls. Tracer tests during autumn 2001 on Farm B, showed that Teladorsagia circumcincta plus Trichostrongylus spp. levels were significantly less on the fungus treatment (P=0.018). The summer/autumn of 2002 was one of the driest on record for Gotland. This resulted in very low levels of infective larval availability. But on both farms, T. circumcincta numbers were less on the fungus than on the control paddocks (P=0.048 on Farm B). In 2003 very low numbers of infective larvae were recorded in the autumn tracers for both treatments on both farms. Both farmer co-operators were encouraged with these results and consider that biological control of nematode parasites in their flocks, using D. flagrans, is of practical value.

Animals↗

The epidemiology of abomasal nematodes of sheep in Sweden, with particular reference to over-winter survival strategies.

In May 2002, studies on the seasonal patterns of nematode infection of sheep were undertaken on four commercial sheep farms in southern Sweden, which had previously reported problems with nematode parasitism, especially due to Haemonchus contortus. One farm was used for intensive investigation. This entailed the establishment of two replicate groups of sheep, each consisting of 20 ewes and their lambs, on adjacent pasture paddocks. The seasonal patterns of nematode infection were followed by regular (approximately monthly) sampling of both ewes and lambs for nematode faecal egg counts and larval differentiation, and the sequential use of replicate groups of tracer lambs. H. contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta were the most abundant nematode species, with the former most prevalent in the post-parturient faecal egg counts of ewes. Tracer worm counts showed almost 100% arrested development in the early fourth larval stage for H. contortus as early as mid-summer and the numbers of parasites progressively increased during the season. T. circumcincta also showed high levels of arrested development, but not as early, or as absolute, as for H. contortus. Tracers allocated to the paddocks at the time of turn-out following winter in May 2003, showed virtually a total absence of H. contortus in contrast to exceedingly high infections with T. circumcincta. Results of the three additional monitoring flocks supported these findings. It can be concluded that under Swedish sheep farming conditions, H. contortus has evolved to survive the long, cold winters entirely within the host as the arrested larval stage, relying on the lambing ewe to complete its life cycle. The peri-parturient relaxation of resistance in the ewes triggers the resumption of development to the adult egg-laying parasites to result in pasture contamination and the completion of just one parasite generation/year. In contrast, T. circumcincta can survive well over-winter, both on pasture and within the host.

Animals↗

Field studies on the biological control of nematode parasites of sheep in the tropics, using the microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans.

Long-term field studies were conducted on two government managed small ruminant research farms, located in different geo-climatic regions and approximately 300 km separate from each other, on Peninsula Malaysia. The Infoternak trial (48 weeks) and the Chalok trial (43 weeks) each compared nematode parasite control in separately managed groups of young sheep, either short-term rotationally grazed around a suite of 10 paddocks in addition to receiving a daily supplement of Duddingtonia flagrans spores (Fungus Group); or similar groups of sheep being rotationally grazed alone (Control Group). The prevailing weather conditions at Infoternak farm were of below average rainfall conditions for the most of the trial. As a consequence, only very low worm infections (almost exclusively Haemonchus contortus) were acquired by the 17 sets of tracer lambs that grazed sequentially with the experimental lambs. However on all except 2 occasions in the early part of the trial, the mean tracer worm burdens were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and the experimental lambs grew significantly better (P = 0.054) in the Fungus Group. Rainfall at Chalok farm during the course of the trial was also below average. As a consequence infectivity of pastures was assumed to be relatively low based on faecal egg counts (epg) of the experimental sheep, which following an anthelmintic treatment prior to allocation, remained very low in both treatment groups. Faecal egg counts of undosed replacement lambs in the latter half of the Chalok study, showed a progressive increase in the Control Group to levels exceeding 3000 epg, whereas the Fungus Group remained static at approximately 500 epg. These results show that the deployment of the nematophagous fungus, D. flagrans, can improve the level of parasite control of sheep in the tropics above that which can be achieved by the short-term rotational grazing strategy alone.

Animal Husbandry↗

Evaluation of anthelmintic properties of some plants used as livestock dewormers against Haemonchus contortus infections in sheep.

Gastrointestinal helminth infections remain a major constraint to livestock production globally. This study evaluated anthelmintic efficacy of 7 plants used as dewormers by farmers and pastoralists in Kenya. Thus 3 commercial anthelmintics and 7 plant preparations were tested in lambs infected with 5000 or 3000 L3 Haemonchus contortus in 4 experiments. In the first experiment, ivermectin, levamisole and albendazole were tested in 46 lambs. Seven plant preparations of Hagenia abyssinica, Olea europaea var. africana, Annona squamosa, Ananas comosus, Dodonea angustifolia, Hildebrandtia sepalosa and Azadirachta indica were tested in 151 lambs in 3 experiments. All 3 anthelminitics were highly effective in reducing faecal egg counts (FEC) and total worm counts (TWC) in lambs. Plant preparations had varying levels of crude proteins from 2.6% for O. europaea to 18.4% for A. indica. Compared with controls, no significant reductions in FEC were observed for any of the treated groups either 2 or 3 weeks post-treatment. Lambs treated with A. squamosa and A. comosus were slaughtered 4 weeks post-treatment. No significant differences were observed in mean TWC or number of eggs per female worm between treated animals and the controls. No significant improvements in weight gain were observed in treated lambs.

Animals↗

Total anthelmintic failure to control nematode parasites of small ruminants on government breeding farms in Sabah, East Malaysia.

Government-owned small-ruminant breeding farms in Malaysia provide the source of sheep and goats to smallholder farmers in the country. In the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, high-level stock losses have been recorded on these farms for several years, frequently accompanied by clinical signs indicating pathogenic levels of infections with the nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. This suggests that their dependence on chemotherapy to control parasite infections had failed. Accordingly, tests for anthelmintic efficacy using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) on the range of drugs used to control nematode parasites were carried out on the five government small-ruminant breeding farms in Sabah. These tests showed a total failure of the benzimidazole, imidothiazole, macrocyclic lactone and salicylanilide groups of anthelmintics to control H. contortus infections of sheep and goats on all farms. Drastic changes in animal management need to be made in an attempt to deal with this situation, for which suggestions are made.

Animal Husbandry↗

Evaluation of copper supplementation to control Haemonchus contortus infections of sheep in Sweden.

A pen study was conducted to assess the effect of providing daily copper mineral supplement, or copper wire particle (COWP) capsules, on established or incoming mixed nematode infections in young sheep. For lambs with established (6 week old) infections, COWP resulted in 97% and 56% reduction of the adult and early L4 stages of H. contortus, respectively, compared with controls (p<0.001). Additionally there was a 74% reduction in Teladorsagia circumcincta infections in the COWP lambs compared with controls (p<0.01). However, no effect was observed when COWP were given at the commencement of a larval dosing period of 6 weeks. There was no significant effect of copper mineral supplement (given at the recommended rate to prevent Cu deficiency) on either established, or developing parasite infections. In addition, a field trial was conducted on a commercial farm to assess the effects of COWP in the management of recurrent H. contortus infections, but lack of parasites during the grazing season prevented an adequate assessment from being made. These results indicate that there is little, if any, benefit from a parasite control standpoint in recommending copper therapy, specifically to control parasites in Swedish sheep flocks.

Animals↗

Management and control of nematode parasites of small ruminants in the face of total anthelmintic failure.

Total failure of modern broad spectrum anthelmintics to control nematode parasites of sheep and goats is a reality, of rapidly increasing dimension, on many farms in the tropical / subtropical regions of the world. This is primarily associated with the highly pathogenic, blood sucking parasite, Haemonchus contortus, and where it now cannot be controlled by chemotherapy, annual mortalities exceeding 20% of the flock can be expected. Thus sheep and goat enterprises become totally unsustainable, unless major changes in management are effected. These must include a change away from reliance on suppressive anthelmintic treatment and to include several non-chemotherapeutic management options. In situations where livestock numbers need to be preserved and there is no opportunity to increase the grazing area available, then zero grazing with cut-and-carry herbage from uncontaminated pasturelands is the only option. In other circumstances stocking rates need to be substantially reduced, so that short-term rotational grazing can be effectively practiced. This strategy is improved if it is combined with the biological control of the free-living stages of the parasites, using the microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans. Monitoring the parasitological status of the animals by faecal sampling sentinel sub-flocks for nematode faecal egg counts, or the use of the FAMACHA procedure, are also valuable tools. Improving overall nutrition of the flock is an important adjunct to control. As a long-term priority, attempts to change the genotype of the flocks to those breeds that have been shown to possess natural resistance to H. contortus are worthwhile.

Journal Article↗

Biological control of nematode parasites of small ruminants in Malaysia using the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans.

Control of nematode parasites of small ruminants in a wet, tropical environment using the nematophagous fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans, was assessed in this study. Two methods of fungal delivery were tested, namely as a daily feed supplement, or incorporated into feed blocks. Initially, pen trials were conducted with individually penned groups of sheep and goats at dose rates of 125,000 spores and 250,000 spores/kg live weight per day. At the lower dose rate this reduction was between 80 and 90% compared with the pre-treatment levels. At the higher dose rate, there was virtually complete suppression (>99% reduction) of larval recovery. Trials using the fungal feed blocks, showed that when animals were individually penned, they consumed only small amounts of the block (particularly goats), hence little effect on larval recovery in faecal cultures was observed. Grouping animals according to species and dose rate induced satisfactory block consumption and subsequent high levels of larval reduction in faecal cultures. These larval reductions were mirrored by the presence of fungus in faecal cultures. This work was followed by a small paddock trial, whereby three groups of sheep were fed either a feed supplement without fungal spores, supplement with spores, or offered fungal blocks. The dose rate of spores in the latter two groups was 500,000 spores/kg live weight per day. Egg counts were significantly reduced in the two fungal groups, compared with the control group and the latter required two salvage anthelmintic treatments to prevent mortality due to haemonchosis. Pasture larval numbers on the two fungal group plots were also much lower than on the control plot.

Animal Feed↗

Evolution of high-level, multiple anthelmintic resistance on a sheep farm in Malaysia.

Anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of sheep and goats on a government farm in north Malaysia was monitored over a 3-year period (1997-2000). The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted on young sheep at the beginning and end of this period. Changes in management, designed to reduce the selection pressure for the development of anthelmintic resistance, were also implemented during this time. By far the most important parasite problem was Haemonchus contortus. In 1997, this nematode was found to be resistant to levamisole, with suspected resistance to closantel and moxidectin. However, when the FECRT was repeated 3 years later, its resistance status had become much more severe, with resistance to benzimidazole, levamisole and ivermectin, and suspected resistance to moxidectin. This rapid evolution to multiple anthelmintic resistance is a major concern that needs to be arrested. There is an urgent need to evaluate other control strategies that incorporate livestock management, the 'smart' use of drugs and non-chemotherapeutic approaches, such as biological control agents.

Animals↗