World Parasite Awareness Day

In a changing world where the climate shifts, travel increases and animals are able to move more freely, parasites can spread to new areas, putting both pets and humans at risk if left unprotected. Parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms affect not only animals, but people as well. This is why veterinary experts, parasite councils, researchers and the animal health sector have come together to launch World Parasite Awareness Day, to be held annually on 20th March to raise awareness.

Director at Advanced Veterinary Therapeutics and Neoculi Pty Ltd., Dr Stephen Page says that awareness is absolutely key.

“Understanding how parasites are acquired is the key to ensure effective prevention. For example, a number of parasites of humans and animals are spread by mosquitoes (the vector) – heart worm in dogs and malaria in humans. Knowing this underlines the importance of mosquito control.”

While there are treatments available for infections caused by parasites, resistance to anti parasitic drugs is becoming a problem across the globe. When asked what can be done to combat resistance to anti-parasitic treatments, Dr Page says that resistance may ultimately be inevitable. However, it can be delayed by ensuring prevention and treatment strategies are undertaken according to the latest guidelines which emphasise the principles of appropriate use and stewardship – for example, ensuring the right treatment by the right route for the right animal and the right dose for the right duration – the 5 rights of appropriate treatment.

According to Dr Page, parasites are so interesting from a scientific research perspective because of their exquisite life cycle. It is often very complex and require a sequence of different animal species in order for the life cycle to be completed. That’s why Neoculi has built a multidisciplinary team of collaborators and partnered with CEAStAR to ‌‌develop a new and novel antiprotozoal therapy for animal use.

Emma Mao is one of the CEAStAR PhD students based at University of Adelaide working with Neoculi on this project. Emma is part of a team led by A/Prof Danny Wilson that uses the biology of parasites to prioritise and develop new drugs to treat infections.

When asked what inspired her to study parasites, Emma said that despite their significant impact on human and animal health, little is known about the biology of parasites.

“Parasites are incredibly complex, with intricate life cycles and survival strategies that allow them to manipulate a broad range of hosts and adapt to diverse environments. The lack of effective treatments for many parasitic diseases emphasises the need to better understand these organisms.”

For more than 10 years, Neoculi has been working closely with the Universities of Newcastle and Adelaide, and with research teams at Murdoch and Griffith Universities. They have discovered highly selective and active new compounds that may become important future medicines that treat parasite infections and minimise or eliminate the harm they cause.

For Emma, this has been the most exciting part of her research.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the work we do has the potential to benefit others and provide solutions to some of the challenges they face on a daily basis.”

Read more about Neoculi’s antiprotozoal project with CEAStAR here.

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