Modified plant saponins for the control of liver fluke in livestock

Liver fluke in cattle and sheep represents an increasing economic problem, particularly because of developing resistance to available drugs, as well as representing a serious animal welfare issue. This project will develop a nature based alternative treatment by using a bulk chemical that can be isolated in large quantities from a common non-food plant which is currently little used in the UK and often controlled by burning. The plant material, which itself is know to be actve against fluke, will be converted into a single chemical entity by simple processes and then modified to optimise its activity. This will be determined using a highly specialised approach measuring in vitro many individual effects on the fluke, and during small in vivo studies. The consortium will develop and cost a complete product dossier, including material supply, product formulation, efficacy and delivery systems, a route to market,and an analysis of the potential benefits in controlling disease; it is expected that this project portfolio will either lead to a consortium partner moving directly to the process of full product registration , or to the consortium licencing the outputs so that such a process could begin.