By Andi Anderson
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the University of Notre Dame have launched a new research project to explore a potential way to control New World screwworm, a pest that threatens livestock, wildlife, and agricultural systems in the United States. Through a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant, FFAR is investing $140,389 to study whether an existing medicine can be used to combat screwworm larvae.
New World screwworm has become a growing concern for livestock producers as it can cause serious damage to animals and create economic challenges for the agriculture industry. Concerns about the reduced effectiveness of some current treatments in South America and the limited number of approved control methods have increased the need for new solutions.
According to Dr. Jasmine Bruno, FFAR scientific program director, "New World screwworm is a significant and urgent threat to animal health, U.S. producers’ profitability, competitiveness and the food supply chain. This research could expand the limited options available for controlling New World screwworm. By evaluating a drug already approved for human use, the project could accelerate the path toward veterinary applications by building on existing safety data."
The research is being led by Dr. Lee Haines, associate research professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and Dr. Álvaro Acosta-Serrano, professor of biological science at the University of Notre Dame. Their team is evaluating nitisinone, a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for human use. Recent studies have shown that nitisinone can kill several blood-feeding insects by blocking an enzyme needed for blood digestion.
Researchers are using the closely related secondary screwworm as a model to test how the drug affects larvae and adult flies. The study focuses on larval toxicity, wound treatment potential, growth, reproduction, and survival. Findings from the project will help determine proper dosage levels and guide future research involving primary screwworm populations.
Discussing the project, Dr. Lee Haines, associate research professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, said, "We've already demonstrated nitisinone’s transformative ability to kill other blood-feeding insects, and applying this knowledge to screwworms opens up a timely new frontier in livestock protection. Growing up on a farm, I watched our animals suffer from other blood-sucking insect pests every summer, and that experience taught me early on just how much these tiny predators can wear an animal (and the farmer) down. We are eager to build on our recent breakthroughs in vector-borne diseases to develop a much-needed and complementary tool for protecting U.S. livestock and producers from the screwworm populations expanding across the country."
The project supports efforts to strengthen animal health, improve producer preparedness, and protect American agriculture from invasive species. Results from this pilot study may help develop additional tools for managing screwworm populations and safeguarding the nation's livestock industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Indiana, Livestock