Are worms winning the 'Parasite Olympics' — The science behind the race to resistance

With dairy cows mid-lactation, Eprinomectin is our only non-milk withdrawal dose available and it is vital we protect its efficiency by using it sparingly, writes Hazell Mullins

Liver fluke is living its best life this summer, trying to outsmart the drugs we use to treat it by creating resistant genes. Picture: iStock.

There is a reason behind my madness with my parasite-themed articles of late, and that is that Ireland is a parasite's version of the Maldives — a tropical paradise for multiplication. 

While we may complain about the wet, mild summers, the parasites are living their best lives trying to outsmart the drugs we use to treat them by creating resistant genes that spread like a virus through a creche in September.