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SCOPs to investigate tools to identify worm species
Existing FECs are unable to identify specific worm species.
Veterinary teams and farmers are invited to complete a short survey.

Sustainable Control of Parasites (SCOPs) has announced plans to explore new methods of identifying specific worm species that are present in dung samples from sheep.

The project will see SCOPs work with Queen's University Belfast and Biobest to devise simpler, and potentially cheaper, tests for farmers and veterinary teams to use.

The group currently promotes the use of faecal egg counts (FECs). This test can be used to estimate the adult worm burden in sheep and measure the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments.

However FECs are not able to differentiate between most species of worm.

SCOPs says that techniques are available to identify worm species, either using DNA or extracted worm eggs from faeces. These tests are not commercially available, and are primarily used in research settings.

The identification of the worm species is becoming increasingly important for sheep farmers in the UK. This can help them better analyse the efficiency of anthelmintic classes and make complex decisions around the use of wormer classes.

The research has been funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, in the hopes a new, more accessible test will be discovered.

Lesley Stubbings, an independent sheep consultant speaking on behalf of SCOPs, said: “For this work to be taken forward, it is really important for us to understand the appetite for such a diagnostic tool.

“To try to gauge this we have devised a short survey for farmers, vets and advisers who are concerned or involved in worm control in sheep. It will only take five minutes but will be extremely valuable as we strive to provide new tools for you to use in the fight against anthelmintic resistance.”

So far, survey responses have found that respondents are most interested in diagnostic accuracy and turnaround time over price. These findings will be used to support researchers in creating a test, to be used alongside an FEC, for sheep farmers, veterinary teams and advisors.

The survey can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.