Chasing helminths and their economic impact on farmed ruminants

Global agriculture will be required to intensify production
from a shrinking natural resource base. Helminth
infections of ruminants are a major constraint on efficient
livestock production. The current challenge is to
develop diagnostic methods that detect the production
impact of helminth infections on farms in order to target
control measures and contribute to the global challenge
of preserving food security. We review here our understanding
of the effects of helminth infections and control
practices on productivity and the diagnostic tools that
can inform on this. By combining advances in helminth
laboratory diagnostics and animal health economics,
sustainable management of helminth infections can be
integrated into the whole-farm economic context.