Drug Resistant Heartworm Strains
- *Abstract
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Application
- Testing currently marketed products againstthis drug-resistant strain
- Testing newly formulated products containingmacrocyclic lactone drugs
- Testing new novel classes of candidateheartworm preventative drugs
- Developing molecular and/or in vitro bioassaydiagnostic tests for resistant heartworms
- Studying the mechanism(s) of drug resistance inheartworms
Problems Addressed
Heartworms are the mostimportant parasite of dogs, with the potential to cause severe life-threateningdisease. Consequently, it is recommendedthat all pet dogs in the United States be on a monthly heartworm preventative,of which all products contain drugs of the macrocyclic lactone class. However, in recent years drug resistance tothe macrocyclic lactone drugs has been documented in heartworms. Thus, there is in important need to isolate,characterize, and maintain resistant isolates for research purposes. So far, only a few strains of drug-resistantheartworms have been isolated and characterized, making these strains avaluable resource for research. Investigators at the University of Georgiarecently isolated two such strains, designated “Metairie 2014” and “Yazoo 2013.”
Inventor
RayKaplan, DVM, PhD, DipEVPC, DipACVM
Professorof Infectious Disease, UGA College of Veterinary Medicine
http://vet.uga.edu/id/people/kaplan-r
Dr.Kaplan’s research aims to measure understand, and solve the problems presentedby drug-resistance in nematode parasites. Research activities include developing in vitro and molecular diagnosticassays to detect anthelmintic resistance in nematode populations, studying themolecular biology and population genetics of anthelmintic resistance, studyingand developing novel and sustainable approaches to parasite control that relyless heavily on chemical anthelmintics, studying host-parasite interactions ofheartworm infection in dogs, as well as the mechanism of action and resistanceof macrocyclic lactone heartworm preventatives, and measuring the prevalence ofdrug resistance using molecular, in vitroand in vivo assays.
Technology Development and IP Status
· Collaborations sought
· Strains of heartworm available for purchase
- 国家/地区
- 美国
