Amplicon sequencing of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes following anthelmintic treatment
This project investigates gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) community composition and genetic diversity in sheep following anthelmintic treatment using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Samples were collected from 18 commercial sheep farms in southeast England as part of a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) study. Faecal samples were obtained before treatment and 14 days post-treatment from lambs treated with levamisole, ivermectin, or a sequential combination of both drugs.First-stage larvae (L1) were recovered from pooled faecal samples and used for DNA extraction. Amplicon sequencing targeting the rDNA ITS-2 region was performed to characterise GIN species composition (nemabiome analysis), while mitochondrial ND4 sequencing was used to assess intra-species genetic diversity and population structure in key species, including Teladorsagia circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus.The dataset provides insight into species-specific responses to anthelmintic treatment, changes in community structure, and patterns of genetic diversity associated with anthelmintic resistance in sheep nematodes.