Ten Events That Defined Anthelmintic Resistance Research

Fifty years after anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites was first reported, the prevalence of resistance has increased globally, and is of increasing significance in animal industries. It is now timely to reflect on what we have learnt, how research has unfolded, and what we hope to learn in the future. This Opinion paper examines ten important research events that were pivotal in resistance research. The moments include the discovery, description, and diagnosis of parasite resistance, as well as important physiological and genetic findings, and the development of online tools to help manage resistance. Despite our efforts, resistance remains the greatest challenge in parasite control. The future directions for research, including people and funding, are discussed. Anthelmintic resistance in production animals continues to increase globally and in severity. There have been many advances in resistance research over the past 50 years, including diagnostics, important physiological and genetic findings, and the development of predictive mathematical models and tools to help farmers manage resistance. However, the challenge has only been partially met. A key issue that requires resolution is the use of diagnostic techniques that overestimate the presence of resistance. In the face of resistance, parasites are costly and difficult organisms to study. Resourcing and coordinating the global effort in terms of scientists and funds is a future challenge.