Conference Agenda
Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
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CP16.1: Horses & Cows - 5 min talks Location: Lecture Theatre 2 Session Chair: Abdul Jabbar, The University of Melbourne Session Chair: Narelle Dybing, Murdoch University | |
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Molecular epidemiology of Strongyloides westeri in Australian Foals Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, the University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia Strongyloides westeri is an intestinal threadworm of foals (≤16 weeks) that can cause dermatitis, diarrhoea and respiratory signs depending on parasite burden and transmission route. Despite its clinical relevance, epidemiological data on infections in Australian foal populations are limited. Additionally, traditional diagnostic methods such as faecal flotation techniques may have lower diagnostic sensitivity, highlighting the need for improved molecular diagnostic methods. This study aims to develop and validate a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection and quantification of S. westeri in faecal samples from Australian foals. Following McMaster faecal egg count (FEC), DNA extracted from samples will be screened for Strongyloides spp. using a qPCR assay targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA region. The positive amplicons will be submitted for sanger DNA sequencing. Sequence analysis will be undertaken using Geneious Prime and alignments made with GenBank references, followed by species identity confirmation using phylogenetic analysis. Although experimental work is ongoing, it is anticipated that the qPCR assay will have greater sensitivity and accuracy compared to the traditional FEC. This will be the first study to provide molecular epidemiological data of S. westeri in Australian foals and support sustainable equine health management. | |