USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, in which researchers investigate the impact of anthelmintic resistance in parasites of poultry.

The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Wayne Farms LLC and is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A summary of the completed project is provided below. A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained through USPOULTRY’s website. The project summary is as follows.

Project #F081: Investigating the impact of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of poultry

(Dr Ray Kaplan, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia)

Dr Ray Kaplan and colleagues at the University of Georgia recently completed a study evaluating anthelminthic resistance in parasites of poultry. The project aimed to measure the production impact of drug-resistant Ascaridia dissimilis on turkeys, develop a molecular diagnostic that would allow for screening of resistance in populations of Ascaridia dissimilis, and determine the efficacy of fenbendazole on a population of Heterakis gallinarum.

Overall, results demonstrate the impact that poultry nematode parasites may have on feed conversion in poultry and the costs associated with failure to clear resistant parasites. The effects of drug-resistant parasitic infections on the health and productivity of poultry highlight the need for new control strategies for continued efficiency in production.

The research summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website. Information on other Association research may also be obtained by visiting the USPOULTRY website.