Genetic control of resistance to helminths in sheep

Uncertainties over the continued effectiveness of currently available anthelmintics and the massive costs associated with development of new drugs have provided an impetus to search for alternative measures to control gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. One option is to exploit the genetically determined variability in resistance existing within host populations. A number of selection experiments, comprising divergent and control lines, have been initiated to investigate the nature of this genetic regulation. It was found that the heritability of worm-egg counts in faeces after infection ranges from 0.2 to 0.4, indicating that worthwhile genetic gains can be achieved in commerical breeding programmes. Immune responses directed against parasites are under genetic control and appear to be the major factor responsible for the interline differences. Consequently, selection for increased resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes has resulted in an enhanced reactivity across a broad range of immunological functions (humoral, cellular and effector responses). These mechanistic studies have relevance to the development of vaccines and vaccination strategies, as well as for the application of phenotypic and genetic markers to measure resistance more accurately or to identify genetically resistant animals independently of infection.