Helminth parasitic pathogens cause severe disease and are amongst the most important production-limiting diseases of grazing ruminants. Frequent anthelmintic use to control these infections has resulted in the selection of drug resistant helminth populations. Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is today found in all major helminth species across Europe and globally. COMBAR will advance research on the prevention of anthelmintic resistance in helminth parasites of ruminants in Europe and disseminate current knowledge among all relevant stakeholders. By gathering parasitologists, social scientists and agricultural economists, COMBAR will bring together a multi-disciplinary blend of scientists that do normally rarely interact. Inclusion of SMEs and industry in the consortium will facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and novel technologies to the animal health playing field. COMBAR will integrate novel developments in the field of (i) diagnostic tests; (ii) vaccines to protect animals from infection; (iii) anti-parasitic forages, (iv) selective treatment strategies and (iv) decision support tools. By evaluating those novel technologies and assessing their economic trade-offs and barriers to uptake in a European coordinated approach, COMBAR will tackle AR.
anthelmintic resistance - ruminants - diagnostics - socio-economics - sustainable control
