Veterinary Parasitology Day at the 2025 ASP Annual Conference
Are you a Veterinarian and want to find out the latest research in pet and livestock parasitology?
Book now to join researchers at The Australian Society for Parasitology (ASP) annual conference
at Melbourne Connect on Tuesday 1 July, 2025, 10:30am – 3:30pm for two 90 minute
conference sessions on Pet Parasites and Livestock Parasites, followed by a discussion with
the researchers. See details of the talks below.
This event is free, and includes lunch. Bookings essential as seats are limited.
Presentations included in the Veterinary Parasitology Day at 2025 ASP Conference
S1: Pet Parasites Symposium sponsored by Vetoquinol
Time: Tuesday, 01/July/2025: 11:00am – 11:30am
Session Chair: Don Strazzeri, Vetoquinol Australia Pty Ltd
Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, Dipylidium caninum and Taenia spp. in populations of cats from shelters and research colonies, in two endemic regions of Eastern Australia. Florian Roeber1, Riannon Apicella1, Michael Chambers1, Don Strazzeri2, Norbert Mencke3, Katrin Blazejak3 ,1Invetus Pty Ltd., Wongaburra Research Centre, Casino NSW 2470, Australia; 2Vetoquinol Australia PTY LTD, 485 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton QLD 4007 Australia; 3Vetoquinol SA, 37 rue de la Victoire, 75009 Paris, France
CP3: Pet Parasites sponsored by Vetoquinol
Time: Tuesday, 01/July/2025: 11:30am – 12:30pm · Location: Conference room 3
Session Chair: Don Strazzeri, Vetoquinol Australia Pty Ltd
Temperature-dependent disruption to canine heartworm transmission: how current and future climate could impact clinical decision making. Peter Atkinson1, Mark Stevenson2, Ryan O’Handley1, Torben Nielsen1, Charles Caraguel3 ,1University of Adelaide, Australia; 2University of Melbourne, Australia; 3University of Sydney, Australia
Prevalence of ticks and vector-borne pathogens in wild canids in southeast Queensland, Australia. Grace Reeves1, Justine Gibson1, Rowland Cobbold2, Swaid Abdullah1 ,1University of Queensland, Australia; 2Southern Cross University
A nationwide cross-sectional study on canine vector-borne pathogens in pet dogs and associated awareness and preventative practices of veterinarians and dog owners in Australia. Ushani Atapattu1, Anke Wiethoelter1, Luca Massetti1, Louise Rae2, Rebecca Traub1,3, Phillip McDonagh2, Vito Colella1 , 1Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; 2Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia; 3Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Toxoplasma gondii oocyst excretion in a suburban house cat fed raw pet food. Ryan O’Handley1, Emily Dean2 ,1Adelaide University, Australia; 2Wayville Animal Hospital, Wayville SA
CP6: Livestock Parasites 15 min talks sponsored by Elanco
Time: Tuesday, 01/July/2025: 1:30pm – 2:45pm
Vaccinating against ticks: A novel recombinant cattle tick vaccine. Hannah Siddle1, Mikayla Crouch1, Nimitha Ramachandran1, Ala Tabor1,2 , 1The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia; 2The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
From paddocks to pixels: A statewide look at worm resistance. Emily Francis1, Analise McDonald1, Crystal Elliot1, Olivia Kelly1, Mark Westman2, Janina McKay-Demeler2, Jan Slapeta1 , 1Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; 2Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, New South Wales 2568, Australia
Development of novel compounds for the treatment and prevention of Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria spp in livestock. Quinn Mackie1,2, Kelly Young3, Maria Gancheva1, Connor Bury1,2, Emma Mao1, Stephen Page4, Adam McCluskey3, Danny Wilson1, Ryan O’Handley2 , 1Research centre for infectious diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, South Australia; 2School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy 5371, South Australia; 3Chemistry, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; 4Neoculi Pty Ltd., Burwood, Victoria, Australia
Immunogenicity and efficacy of an Australian whole-cell killed T. foetus vaccine in young bulls experimentally infected with Tritrichomonas foetus. Harvey Santos1, Gry Boe-Hansen1,2, Kieren McCosker1, Michael McGowan2, Hannah Siddle1, Loan Nguyen1, Ali Raza1,3, Ala Tabor1,4 , 1The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Centre for Animal Science, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia; 2The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton 4343, Queensland, Australia; 3University of New England, School of Environmental and Rural Science, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia; 4The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
Targeting saliva antibodies as a diagnostic test to detect different stages of small strongyle (cyathostomin) infections in equines. Tanya King, Leni Horner, Habtamu Derseh, Rob Bischof, David Piedrafita, Sarah Preston, Federation University, Australia
CP6.1: Livestock Parasites 5 min talks sponsored by Elanco
Time: Tuesday, 01/July/2025: 2:45pm – 3:00pm
Epidemiology of strongylid nematodes in Australian dairy goats. Endris Ali1, Abdul Ghafar1, Ghazanfar Abbas1, Mark A. Stevenson1, Sandra Baxendell2, Charles G. Gauci1, Elysia Ling1, Ian Beveridge1, Abdul Jabbar1 , 1University of Melbourne, Australia; 2Goat Veterinary Consultancies- goatvetoz, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Comparison of different diagnostic methods to measure Haemonchus contortus infection for surveillance across Victoria. Rebecca Farnell1, David Piedrafita1, Andrew Greenhill1, Christiane Bahlo1, Steve Cotton2, Sarah Preston1 ,1Federation University Australia; 2Dynamic Ag Pty Ltd
Screening for Levamisole Resistance in Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis from Sheep across New South Wales. Olivia Kelly1, Emily Francis1, Jan Slapeta1, Janina McKay2 , 1University of Sydney, Australia; 2Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales
Women in Parasitology Mentoring Program
As part of the 2025 ASP Annual Conference we will run a mentorship day program for women in parasitology. This program will take place on Monday 30th June 2025, from 8:30am – 5:00pm at a venue near to the 2025 ASP Annual Conference in Melbourne.
The program will include a careers panel discussion with Professor Leann Tilley, The University of Melbourne; Professor Karena Waller, The University of Melbourne; Professor Shookofeh Shamsi, Charles Sturt University; Professor Tania De-koning Ward, Deakin University; and Dr Simona John von Freyend, PTNG Scientific. Participants will also receive a workshop session with coach, mentor and educator Melissa Rosenthal who will help develop communication skills in negotiation.
Successful applicants have been notified of their acceptance into this program. This program aims to offer mentoring to the participants to enable them to develop skills in communication and negotiation in the workplace. There will also be opportunities to network and reflect on learning outcomes during the day.