Parasite-host-environment approach to control anthelmintic resistance in sheep flocks

• Grant number: 21/02535-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas
• Grantee: Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas
• Host Institution: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Simone Cristina Méo Niciura
• Associated researchers: Alessandro Francisco Talamini Do Amarante ; Alessandro Pelegrine Minho ; Ana Claudia Alexandre de Albuquerque ; André Martinho de Almeida ; César Cristiano Bassetto ; Cintia Hiromi Okino ; Cintia Righetti Marcondes ; Cristina Santos Sotomaior ; Fernanda de Freitas Anibal ; Helio Jose Montassier ; Jan Aucamp van Wyk ; Juan Felipe de Jesús Torres-Acosta ; Livio martins Costa Júnior ; Magda Vieira Benavides ; Marcia Cristina de Sena Oliveira ; Oscar Tupy ; Paula Roberta Giaretta ; Raquel Rubia Rech ; Sergio Novita Esteves ; Waldomiro Barioni Júnior
• Associated research grant(s): 21/11830-0 - Multi-user equipament aproved in the grant 2021/02535-5: Quantstudio 6 Pro System 96 wells, AP.EMU
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/19696-0 - Parasite replacement as a tool for reversing anthelmintic resistance, BP.IC; 24/13555-5 - Comparative evaluation of humoral immune responses triggered by Haemonchus contortus in three sheep breeds carrying different beta-globin haplotypes, BP.IC; 24/13543-7 - Comparative evaluation of immune responses triggered by Haemonchus contortus in three sheep breeds carrying the different haplotypes of beta-globin., BP.TT; + associated scholarships 24/11152-0 - Anthelmintic resistance control through genetic monitoring of Haemonchus contortus in sheep, BP.TT; 22/12536-1 - Comparative study of proteomic biomarkers of gastrointestinal nematode infection in different sheep breeds, BE.PQ; 22/07720-8 - Study of the effect of parasite replacement on the anthelmintic resistance of Haemonchus contortus in sheep breeds, BP.PD; 22/00776-8 - Determination of the relationship between ovine ²-globin haplotypes and resistance to infection by Haemonchus contortus in Santa Inês, Texel and White Dorper breeds, BP.MS; 22/00118-0 - Parasitic replacement as an approach to mitigating anthelmintic resistance, BP.TT - associated scholarships

Abstract

The current situation of anthelmintic resistance in Brazil predicts low expectations for an increase in the number of small ruminants. However, studies indicate that the efficacy of Anthelmintics (AH) can be restored by replacing the parasitic population in sheep, here called Worm Replacement (WR). Thus, this proposal aims to evaluate and monitor the effect of partial and total replacement of the population of Haemonchus contortus on the status of anthelmintic resistance, in different sheep breeds, for the period of five years. This project will be carried out in the experimental farm of Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste - CPPSE, São Carlos - SP, involving its experimental herd. Fecal Egg Reduction Test (FECRT), in vitro tests (RESISTA-Test©) and molecular tests will help to verify and monitor the phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility of eggs and L3 obtained from the experimental animals before, during and after the WR process. The safety of the treatment will be verified by histological studies and induced inflammatory response. Molecular markers of resistance in H. contortus will be evaluated to monitor changes in allele and genotype frequencies and to trace the dilution of resistance genes in the evaluated population. In addition, it is expected to generate unprecedented information that makes possible to identify the most resistant Santa Inês, White Dorper and Texel individuals through identification of beta-globin haplotypes and other resistance-associated genomic markers, which will not only enable improvement of the selection process of animals resistant to haemonchosis, but also for leading farmers as regards the most suitable sheep breed for their farming conditions. Thus, it is expected to develop tools to be incorporated into a system of integrated parasite control, adding advantages such as: reduction in the number of applications of AH, reduction of the costs and of the environmental impacts of AH, increase in food security and longevity of AH, providing sustainability and growth potential for the small ruminant production chain. (AU)

Scientific publications

(10)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA S.; RIBEIRO, DAVID M.; OSORIO, HUGO; ABREU, ANA A. P.; OKINO, CINTIA H.; NICIURA, SIMONE C. M.; AMARANTE, ALESSANDRO F. T.; BELLO, HORNBLENDA J. S.; MELITO, GLAUCIA R.; ESTEVES, SERGIO N.; et al. Molecular signatures of Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep: A comparative serum proteomic study on susceptible and resistant sheep breeds. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 331, p. 11-pg., 2024-08-08. (22/12536-1, 21/02535-5, 22/07720-8)

OKINO, CINTIA HIROMI; BELLO, HORNBLENDA JOAQUINA SILVA; NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; MELITO, GLAUCIA ROBERTA; DA CUNHA, AMANDA FREITAS; DA COSTA, ESTEVAO CAMILLO; DE CAMPOS, EMANUELLE MARTINS; KAPRITCHKOFF, RAFAELA TAMI IKEDA; MINHO, ALESSANDRO PELEGRINE; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; et al. Haemonchus contortus parasitic stages development and host immune responses in lambs of different sheep breeds. VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY, v. 284, p. 9-pg., 2025-04-23. (24/13543-7, 21/02535-5, 22/00776-8, 24/13555-5)

NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; CARDOSO, TAINA FIGUEIREDO; IBELLI, ADRIANA MERCIA GUARATINI; OKINO, CINTIA HIROMI; ANDRADE, BRUNO GABRIEL; BENAVIDES, MAGDA VIEIRA; CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; MINHO, ALESSANDRO PELEGRINE; REGITANO, LUCIANA CORREIA DE ALMEIDA; et al. Multi-omics data elucidate parasite-host-microbiota interactions and resistance to Haemonchus contortus in sheep. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 17, n. 1, p. 19-pg., 2024-03-01. (21/02535-5, 19/02929-3, 21/11842-9, 22/06281-0, 17/01626-1)

OKINO, CINTIA HIROMI; NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; MINHO, ALESSANDRO PELEGRINE; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; MELITO, GLAUCIA ROBERTA; MONTASSIER, HELIO JOSE; CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA. Divergent humoral responses between males and females against 24 kDa excretory-secretory protein of Haemonchus contortus and influence of ovine (3-globin polymorphism. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY, v. 159, p. 9-pg., 2024-06-21. (21/02535-5)

KAPRITCHKOFF, RAFAELA TAMI IKEDA; OKINO, CINTIA HIROMI; NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; BELLO, HORNBLENDA JOAQUINA SILVA; MATOS, RENATA SILVA; MELITO, GLAUCIA ROBERTA; BRESSANI, FLAVIA ALINE; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA. Association of β-globin polymorphisms and tolerance to haemonchosis in ewes and lambs of different sheep breeds. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 328, p. 8-pg., 2024-03-21. (22/00776-8, 21/02535-5, 22/07720-8)

SIMONE CRISTINA MÉO NICIURA; GUILHERME MARTINELI SANCHES. Predição de resistência anti-helmíntica múltipla por aprendizado de máquina e controle da verminose em rebanhos ovinos. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 33, n. 1, 2024-03-18. (21/02535-5, 21/11842-9)

OKINO, CINTIA HIROMI; NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; GIARETTA, PAULA ROBERTA; MELITO, GLAUCIA ROBERTA; KAPRITCHKOFF, RAFAELA TAMI IKEDA; DOS SANTOS, ISABELLA BARBOSA; RECH, RAQUEL RUBIA; MINHO, ALESSANDRO PELEGRINE; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA. Enhanced mucosal response in sheep harbouring beta(A) beta-globin against haemonchosis. PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2023-07-03. (22/00776-8, 21/02535-5, 18/16070-1, 19/02929-3)

DE SOUZA CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA; TUPY, OSCAR; DOS SANTOS, ISABELLA BARBOSA; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA. Economic impact of gastrointestinal nematodes in Morada Nova sheep in Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 31, n. 3, p. 10-pg., 2022-01-01. (19/02929-3, 21/02535-5, 18/16070-1)

NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; SANCHES, GUILHERME MARTINELI. Machine learning prediction of multiple anthelmintic resistance and gastrointestinal nematode control in sheep flocks. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA, v. 33, n. 1, p. 11-pg., 2024-01-01. (21/11842-9, 21/02535-5)

BELLO, HORNBLENDA JOAQUINA SILVA; KAPRITCHKOFF, RAFAELA TAMI IKEDA; SANTOS, JULIANA DE CARVALHO; MELITO, GLAUCIA ROBERTA; NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA MEO; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; BRESSANI, FLAVIA ALINE; CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA. Worm replacement with susceptible Haemonchus contortus benefits weight gain, reduces anthelmintic treatments and impacts sheep breeds differently. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 337, p. 11-pg., 2025-07-01. (22/00118-0, 22/00776-8, 22/07720-8, 21/02535-5)