Vaccination against Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants: A review

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most important nematode species responsible for huge economic losses to small-ruminant farming in India and world over. Control is primarily based on use of anthelmintics. Over reliance on and non-judicious use of anthelmintics has lead to development of anthelmintic resistance. This wide spread anthelmintic resistance has forced to look for alternate control measures. Vaccination can significantly protect livestock against and lower the economic losses incurred due to H. contortus. Different antigens have been tried with variable success. Use of recombinant antigens has not yielded desirable protection levels. Native antigens have given significant protection but has been considered non feasible. Recent discovery that the dose as low as 5 µg of native antigen can be protective has raised hopes of developing economically feasible vaccines. Barbervax, sub-unit vaccine derived from native gut integral glycoprotein is now commercially available.