PhD Scholarship Top Up – M. Rashid

The University of Melbourne

  • Project code: PRJ-010002

  • Project stage: Closed

  • Project start date: Friday, January 30, 2015

  • Project completion date: Sunday, June 30, 2019

  • National Priority: ALP-Alpaca

Summary

Over the last two decades, the Australian alpaca industry has grown remarkably from a
few flocks in late 1980s to 150,000 registered alpacas in 2013 and thus, the production of alpaca fibre has become one of the major emerging animal industries in Australia. Among various challenges currently faced by the Australian alpaca industry is a lack of
knowledge of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) affecting the production of alpacas and
their control. In addition, almost nothing is known about therapeutic dose rates of
anthelmintics in alpacas nor the status of anthelmintic resistance in GINs of alpacas.

This situation requires action not only to understand in greater detail the GINs of alpacas and also to assess the problem of anthelmintic failures in alpacas in Australia. The present project aims to determine the prevalence of GINs in alpacas in various climatic zones of Australia and also assess the worm control practices used by alpaca farmers. In addition, we will undertake field efficacy studies of various commonly used anthelmintics to assess the status of anthelmintic resistance in GINs of alpacas in several states of Australia.

Program

Alpaca

Research Organisation

The University of Melbourne

Objective Summary

It is anticipated that outcomes of this project will provide substantial health, welfare and
economic benefits to Australian alpaca farmers, by raising awareness of worms and
treatment failure, and developing rigorous, practical guidelines for effective control of
GINs of alpacas. Improved treatment of GINs, including avoiding unnecessary or
ineffective drenching, will reduce anthelmintic treatment costs, as well as occurrence of GIN associated deaths and diseases. Reducing over-use and over-reliance on
anthelmintics will reduce the risk of chemical residues entering the meat, fibre and skin
supply chains, and potential spill over of resistance into other livestock industries.