Development of the FECPAKG2 system to diagnose fluke infection in sheep and cattle.

The PhD programme will contribute to the sustainability of primary livestock production and food security within a changing climate. Specifically, the project aims to enhance the biological efficiency of livestock production by improved detection and control of liver fluke and rumen fluke infection in sheep and cattle through development of a rapid, specific, on-line diagnostic tool for both fluke species. Liver fluke is a zoonotic parasite and the research will build capacity to improve diagnostics for human and equine infections, both also potentially directly relevant to the Convergent area.

Liver fluke is responsible for global economic losses in livestock due to reduced weight gain and carcass quality, poor reproductive performance and condemnation of livers at slaughter in both sheep and cattle. Production losses due to liver fluke in the livestock industry have been estimated to be around US$3.2 billion per year globally. Within the UK, including the Convergence area, the incidence, prevalence and geographic range of the disease have recently increased significantly. Moreover, climate change, realises milder winters and wetter summers, favours population growth of parasite and its snail intermediate host. The project will also address the rapid emergence of co-infections with less pathogenic rumen fluke, another fluke parasite with similar sized eggs, that can lead to incorrect diagnosis of liver fluke disease and wrong treatment advice. The successful detection and control of fluke will increase the productivity of the global livestock sector. However, liver fluke is difficult to diagnose in the live animal, hampering the ability of farmers to manage the problem and to limit economic losses. Blood tests (antibody ELISA, liver enzyme analysis) for diagnosis of infection requires invasive sample collection by veterinarians, which is cost-prohibitive, especially for sheep farmers. Use of faecal samples is a less expensive and non-invasive option. Routine faecal egg counting (FEC) is labour-intensive and time-consuming to perform, but is the benchmark for diagnostic testing. A recently commercialised coproantigen ELISA (cELISA), which detects soluble fluke secretion in host faeces showed promise in experimental studies, however, in field tests it proved to be less sensitive than FEC. Thus, with the continued failure of molecular diagnostics to deliver penside tests, the industry is revisiting the gold standard, for managing parasitic worm infections of livestock i.e. FEC. However, standard FEC has low sensitivity and limited ability to differentiate between liver/rumen flukes. Techion have successfully overcome many technical problems of FEC and already developed and released a new technology platform (FECPAKG2) for managing nematode parasites of livestock. The company is actively engaged in research and development as a core activity, and this includes a current KESS PhD programme with IBERS on optimizing FECPAKG2 for managing nematodes in equines. Now, Techion UK Ltd aspires to extend the capabilities of this novel technology to improve the effectiveness of monitoring fluke in livestock. The FECPAKG2 platform aims to meet the critical deliverables needed (low cost, ease of use, high specificity, rapid testing) for a novel and successful fluke diagnostics. This development project provides multi-discipline training in fluidics, image analysis and veterinary parasitology.



The prospective applicant should have a 1st or good 2:1 in a relevant degree, and be available to take up the studentship by 1st October 2017. To apply, please submit the following to the Postgraduate Admissions Office (email [Email Address Removed] ) by 3rd of March 2017:

1. A completed Research Programme Application Form, two references. Application and reference forms may be downloaded from http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/.

2. A completed KESS II Participant proposal form (put the reference number AU20019 in the top right hand box of the application form) and an up-to-date CV. KESS II application forms are available to download at the link below.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/staff-students/knowledge-economy-skills-scholarships/currentscholarshipvacanciesandapplicationforms/

3. An PhD proposal of up to 1,000 words where you briefly describe your initial ideas for the design of the research project and expand on your skills, experiences and interests and tell us why you are a good candidate for this studentship. Please refer to the Project Description.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be made to Prof. Peter Brophy at [Email Address Removed]; or 01970 622332.

Address for applications:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Recruitment & Admissions
Student Welcome Centre
Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth
SY23 3FB

Quote Reference AU20019

Closing date for applications 3rd March 2017