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One Health research in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has important implications for parasite control programs in low-income countries

Jan. 4, 2025

UCalgary researchers identify new human parasite species resistant to current drug treatments

One Health research in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has important implications for parasite control programs in low-income countries

“The work, accepted for publication in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, reports on a new parasite species, Trichuris incognita, which is poorly controlled by currently available drugs. The UCVM team includes Dr. Abhinaya Venkatesan, PhD’23; Dr. John Soghigian, PhD, assistant professor;  and Dr. John Gilleard, PhD, professor of parasitology and associate dean of research.

This work is part of Gilleard’s wider research program on drug resistance and molecular diagnostics of parasites of both animals and humans.

“This particular work focuses on soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), a group of parasitic worms that pose a significant global health challenge affecting approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide,” says Gilleard. “These parasites cause diseases that have most impact on people living in poverty and are particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions where sanitation is poor and access to clean water limited.” ...”

 “... This research reflects UCVM's commitment to transdisciplinary One Health approaches that integrate human, animal and environmental research to tackle problems of both local and global importance.

For more information on the parasitic disease research undertaken by Gilleard and his team at UCVM , visit the Gilleard Lab website.”

SEE: UCalgary researchers identify new human parasite species resistant to current drug treatments | News | University of Calgary

https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-researchers-identify-new-human-parasite-species-resistant-current-drug-treatments