Authors

C Wray¹; D Wells³; C Herron⁴; RM Morphew²; P McVeigh⁴;  ¹ Queen's University Belfast, UK;  ² Aberystwyth University, UK;  ³ Queen's Univeristy Belfast, UK;  ⁴ Queen’s University Belfast, UK

Discussion

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica is a widespread threat to farming, with production losses exacerbated by predominantly coprology based diagnostic tools that only detect patent infection. Poor available diagnostics has led to overuse of anthelmintics, driving selection pressure for resistance which is becoming an increasingly important issue. Thus, novel diagnostics methods capable of diagnosing active infection are needed. In human medicine non-invasive “liquid biopsies” are often used to diagnose active diseases as well as advise prognostically. Based on these approaches, we have investigated the small-RNA and protein profiles in the serum of sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica. Time-series analysis of these profiles at 0 days (pre-infection) 28 days (juvenile/acute infection) and 105 days (mature/chronic infection) shows statistically significant differentially expressed host micro (mi)RNAs as well as the presence of parasite miRNAs in the serum of infected hosts. Proteomic profiles also show significant differential expression between timepoints. These data are currently being further analysed with the goal of developing a biomarker panel, made up of the most highly informative biomarkers that will make the base of a diagnostic test. Such a diagnostic test could support sustainable use of anthelmintics by allowing more targeted treatment as opposed to flock-wide anthelmintic use.