An Insight into the Global Problem of Gastrointestinal Helminth Infections amongst Livestock: Does Nanotechnology Provide an Alternative?

Laraibah Hamid, Abdulrhman Alsayari, Hidayatullah Tak (), Suhail Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Ali Abdullah Almoyad, Shadma Wahab and Ghulam Nabi Bader ()
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Laraibah Hamid: Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, J&K, India
Abdulrhman Alsayari: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Hidayatullah Tak: Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, J&K, India
Suhail Ahmad Mir: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, J&K, India
Mohammad Ali Abdullah Almoyad: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Khamis Mushyt, King Khalid University, Mushait, P.O. Box 4536, Abha 61412, Saudi Arabia
Shadma Wahab: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Ghulam Nabi Bader: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, J&K, India

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Helminth parasitic infections are a considerable constraint to the livestock industries worldwide. Nematode parasites cause the major proportion of harm to livestock. The infections caused are accountable for severe economic losses in cattle, goat and sheep farming industries. Morbidity and mortality in livestock due to parasitic diseases are increasing alarmingly. Also, their zoonotic influence on human health is considered significant. Anthelmintic drugs have been developed occasionally to curb this disease and prevent major losses. But the development of resistance against these drugs has put another constraint on this flourishing industry. Helminth parasites have developed resistance against three main classes of anthelmintics: benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and nicotinic agonists. With the intensification of resistance, various screening and confirmatory tests have been developed for the speedy introduction of newer drugs in the livestock industry. At the same time, designing and launching novel anthelmintics is time-consuming and economically restrained. Phytochemicals attract much attention because of their pharmacotherapeutic potential, least toxic profile and low environmental hazards. A lot of work is going on plant-based anthelmintic drugs throughout the world. Plants possessing anthelmintic activity have been found efficacious against gastrointestinal parasites. Nevertheless, these herbal medicines have various drawbacks, which include poor efficacy and the absence of target selectivity. These problems are now being taken care of with the help of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles improve the drug’s effectiveness, enhance drug delivery, and target selectivity at specific sites. A comprehensive literature survey was carried out via electronic searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria; articles were selected for this review. The review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of plant-based nanoparticles as therapeutic alternatives over conventional synthetic anthelmintic drugs. It also encompasses the methods of detection of resistance and the ways to overcome this menace. The effectiveness of various organic and inorganic nanoparticles against helminthes is also discussed in this review.

Keywords: nematode parasites; livestock; zoonosis; anthelmintic resistance; phytochemicals; nanoparticles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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