Using Refugia to Manage Parasites

Veterinary Practice New
(Previously published on the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control web page, January 3, 2020)

With 2020 underway, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is continuing its ongoing effort to address issues related to antiparasitic resistance in livestock and horses across the country. Among these efforts are two videos on the subject, directed at large animal producers and owners.

The first, titled “Antiparasitic Resistance in Cattle, Small Ruminants, and Horses in the U.S.,” discusses how to detect antiparasitic resistance and offers recommendations for how it can be addressed, while the second, “Using Refugia to Manage Parasites in Cattle, Sheep, Goats, and Horses and Reduce Resistance to Dewormers,” explains the concept of refugia as it relates to parasite management (i.e. the proportion of a parasite population that remains susceptible to a dewormer), and how it helps reduce antiparasitic resistance.