1. Biological implications of long-term anthelmintic treatment: what else besides resistance are we selecting for?
- Author
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Nielsen, Martin K., Kaplan, Ray M., Abbas, Ghazanfar, and Jabbar, Abdul
- Subjects
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ANTHELMINTICS , *LIVESTOCK parasites , *RESEARCH questions , *PETS , *KNOWLEDGE gap theory - Abstract
Anthelmintic treatment may select for biological traits more relevant than anthelmintic resistance. Some of these biological traits may also affect anthelmintic performance, without fulfilling the definition of resistance. Other non-drug ecological selection pressures could potentially affect anthelmintic performance. Long-term intensive use of anthelmintics for parasite control of livestock, companion animals, and humans has resulted in widespread anthelmintic resistance, a problem of great socioeconomic significance. But anthelmintic therapy may also select for other biological traits, which could have implications for anthelmintic performance. Here, we highlight recent examples of changing parasite dynamics following anthelmintic administration, which do not fit the definition of anthelmintic resistance. We also consider other possible examples in which anthelmintic resistance has clearly established, but where coselection for other biological traits may have also occurred. We offer suggestions for collecting more information and gaining a better understanding of these phenomena. Finally, we propose research questions that require further investigation and make suggestions to help address these knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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