Charles Sturt University Launches Landmark Veterinary Parasitology Initiative to Uncover Hidden Parasites

• A scientist from Charles Sturt University is undertaking new research into the hidden world of parasites to protect public health, food safety and vulnerable communities

• Parasites affect food security, fisheries, livestock production, biodiversity, and ecosystem health, as well as human health

• Her work has uncovered a concerning gap in Australian policy and regulatory frameworks which monitor parasites and their impact on human, animal and environmental health

Parasitic infections are widespread globally and may be acquired through contaminated food or water, environmental exposure, insects, or interactions between humans, animals and ecosystems.

Many infections are underdiagnosed because symptoms can be vague, chronic, or mistaken for other illnesses. Malaria (caused by a mosquito-borne parasite) was estimated to cause more than 600,000 deaths in 2024 in 80 mostly tropical countries.

By addressing the critical gap in Australia’s knowledge of parasites, Professor Shokoofeh Shamsi (pictured) in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga hopes to support biosecurity and sustainable food systems at home and abroad.

The project involves examining foodborne parasites in animals consumed by humans, particularly fish and game meat. The work includes investigations of parasites in museum samples in Tasmania collected from a whale (which may provide new insights into factors associated with whale strandings), and parasites in feral animals such as pigs and deer, and fish.

Mapping the “Hidden Bottleneck” of Parasitic Shift

While highly visible viral and bacterial outbreaks frequently dominate international biosecurity headlines, subclinical parasitic infestations present a more insidious threat to global protein production. Microscopic parasites often remain undetected within herds for months, quietly degrading animal welfare and draining farm profitability.

Professor Shamsi’s research team is mapping out how changing precipitation patterns, prolonged regional droughts, and sudden flooding events are altering the geographic footprints of intermediate hosts, such as pasture snails and waterborne vectors.

By uncovering hidden parasites and better understanding how they work and the risks they pose she hopes to better protect public health and inform national and global food safety policy.

Professor Shamsi, who also serves on the Board of the Food Safety Information Council (Australia), said parasites remain an often overlooked aspect of food safety and public health.

“Parasites are often ‘hidden’ problems; people rarely think about them until outbreaks or unusual cases occur, but they are deeply connected to food safety, biosecurity, environmental health, and interactions with animals,” Professor Shamsi said.

Target Pathogens: Tracking Toxoplasma and Liver Fluke Mutations

The initiative’s primary field operations focus on tracking and sequencing pathogens within highly mobile wild populations, specifically feral pigs and wild deer networks, which act as uncontrolled biological reservoirs.

1. Toxoplasma gondii

A major priority of the study is mapping the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii. This zoonotic protozoan parasite poses a dual threat: it causes reproductive failure and abortions in sheep and goats, and it presents a significant public health risk if it enters the human food chain via undercooked meat. By tracking how feral swine populations shed the parasite near commercial grazing lands, the team aims to build a geographical risk matrix for livestock producers.

2. Endemic Fluke Mutations

The program is intensively monitoring genetic mutations within endemic fluke populations (such as liver and rumen flukes). These mutations are allowing the parasites to tolerate broader temperature ranges and develop resistance to standard farm treatments. Left unmanaged, fluke burdens cause severe liver damage, poor feed conversion, and sharply reduced milk and meat yields in cattle and sheep.

Building an Early-Warning Diagnostic Baseline

The ultimate goal of the Charles Sturt University initiative is to transition veterinary medicine from a reactive treatment model to a predictive containment strategy. By leveraging high-throughput genetic sequencing and advanced geospatial modeling, Professor Shamsi’s team is building an Early-Warning Diagnostic Baseline.

This digital intelligence network will allow biosecurity authorities to identify parasitic hot spots well before the pathogens breach commercial farm gates. Providing livestock integrators and regulatory agencies with real-time data on parasitic movements allows for targeted pasture management and precise anti-parasitic treatment schedules. This proactive approach protects thin producer margins, ensures the continuity of international trade corridors, and secures the safety of the global food supply.