Integrated control of nematode infections in cattle: A reality? A need? A future?

Helminth infections are a major cause of production loss in cattle. Great p rogress has been achieved in the design of control strategies for these inf ections. Control is based mainly on the use of anthelmintics, and these hav e become more potent and easier to administer. However, the most effective control is possible only through the integration of different approaches. M oreover, an increasing number of disadvantages of chemotherapy/prophylaxis- biological, economical and environmental-have been suggested. In sheep, the high incidence of anthelmintic resistance has simply forced veterinarians/ producers to adopt alternative control strategies; in cattle, no real need for deviation from the actual control programmes seems to exist. Therefore, the following questions are discussed: (1) Based on the distribution of ca ttle worldwide, what are the target parasites? (2) Can we continue to rely on control based mainly on the use of (highly effective) anthelmintics? (3) What are the prospects for non-chemical control? (4) Who will develop and implement integrated control systems? (5) In the case of parasite control i n Western Europe. has it been efficient and can/need it be changed? (6) How can we integrate helminth control in the general design of herd disease co ntrol? (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.