Characterisation of ivermectin and multi-drug resistance in two field isolates of Teladorsagia circumcincta from Irish sheep flocks

Abstract

Ivermectin resistant Teladorsagia circumcincta were isolated from two Irish sheep farms. Parasite naïve lambs were artificially challenged with the isolates in order to test their sensitivity to benzimidazole (BZ), levamisole (LEV) and ivermectin (IVM) by means of a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Both isolates were found to be resistant to all three anthelmintics with reductions of 47% (C.I. 10–68), 92% (C.I. 74–97) and 50% (C.I. 24–68) for the Farm A isolate and of 85% (C.I. 59–94), 89% (C.I. 69–96) and 73% (C.I. 49–86) for the Farm B isolate for BZ, LEV and IVM, respectively. A controlled efficacy test (CET) was undertaken to confirm resistance to IVM and to determine the efficacy of moxidectin (MOX). In agreement with the FECRT, IVM resistance was confirmed for both isolates, with reductions in worm burden of 78% (C.I. 67–85) and 80% (C.I. 45–93) for the Farm A and B isolates respectively. Both isolates were found to be MOX susceptible, with reductions in worm burden of 97% (C.I. 91–99) and 100% for the Farm A and B isolates respectively. Additionally, in vitro tests confirmed the results of the FECRT; results from the larval development assay (LDA) confirmed that both isolates were resistant to BZ and LEV with development observed at the discriminating dose for each drug, while the larval migration inhibition assay (LMIA) confirmed IVM resistance and indicated MOX susceptibility in both isolates. These results represent the first confirmed cases of IVM resistance on Irish sheep farms as well as the first report of multiple anthelmintic resistant gastrointestinal nematodes in Ireland.