About this Research Topic
Parasitic diseases are considered important limiting factors of livestock production worldwide causing varied symptoms, which may include (depending on the species of the parasite): anemia, diarrhea and reduced food consumption, weight gain and/or milk production, infertility, as well as high mortality rates in case of massive infections. In an attempt to control parasites, errors in the use of products are common, in which dosages are increased and intervals between treatments are reduced, resulting in antiparasitic resistance and higher levels of antiparasitic residues in meat, milk and the environment. Parasite resistance to several antiparasitic drugs has been increasingly described, demonstrating a worrying scenario, especially in tropical regions. Studies focused on reducing the use of antiparasitic drugs, aiming at a more sustainable control of parasites, must be increasingly encouraged.
Due to reports of antiparasitic resistance, the sustainable control of parasites has to be increasingly encouraged, which helps in the development of more ecologically correct and economically viable livestock activities. Alternatives for parasite control, such as biological control by helminthophagous fungi, entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes, phytotherapy and selective control, such as the use of the Famacha© method (for haemonchosis in small ruminants), should be evaluated for use in a maximum of herds as possible, emphasizing the need for more sustainable protocols. Studies with methodologies that potentially would open up new opportunities to discover novel therapeutic/or control approaches are also recommended.
The current topic scope includes:
- Alternatives for parasite control, such as biological control by helminthophagous fungi, entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes, phytotherapy and selective control.
- Studies that describe management protocols aimed at reducing the use of antiparasitic drugs in farm animals.
- Contributions in basic or applied research in parasitology in the context of sustainable livestock.
- Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro are accepted after analyzing the constituents and active ingredients of the utilized natural products.
Due to reports of antiparasitic resistance, the sustainable control of parasites has to be increasingly encouraged, which helps in the development of more ecologically correct and economically viable livestock activities. Alternatives for parasite control, such as biological control by helminthophagous fungi, entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes, phytotherapy and selective control, such as the use of the Famacha© method (for haemonchosis in small ruminants), should be evaluated for use in a maximum of herds as possible, emphasizing the need for more sustainable protocols. Studies with methodologies that potentially would open up new opportunities to discover novel therapeutic/or control approaches are also recommended.
The current topic scope includes:
- Alternatives for parasite control, such as biological control by helminthophagous fungi, entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes, phytotherapy and selective control.
- Studies that describe management protocols aimed at reducing the use of antiparasitic drugs in farm animals.
- Contributions in basic or applied research in parasitology in the context of sustainable livestock.
- Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro are accepted after analyzing the constituents and active ingredients of the utilized natural products.
Keywords: Biological control, Parasitology, Phytotherapy, Refugia, Selective treatment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
