The Breakthrough of Nanotechnology to Veterinary Parasitology Research

Nanotechnology has given the tools to human and non-human medicine to improve treatments and to
develop effective immune responses against infectious agents. This technology involves the
production and use of physical, chemical or biological systems at submicron scales. The funding for
nanotechnology research has reached the house of hundreds of million dollars worldwide, including
the USA multi-agency National Nanotechnology Initiative, the European Union -Horizon 2020, as well
as China Nanotech Fund and the Brazilian System for Nanotechnology. Cancer research has been
the major area met by nanotechnology but Veterinary Parasitology is largely benefiting, i.e.
Leishmania sp. and Plasmodium sp.. New reports have focused on the use of drugs in nanoemulsion
formulations against nematode parasites of livestock, demonstrating the potentialities and the
applications in research and development to fight drug resistance. One new development to drug
formulation is the nano-nization of the drug, essential to the penetration of the cuticle of parasites and
to intracellular parasites treatment. Our research groups in Cuba and Brazil are currently running
preliminary test using nanopeptides against the ruminant helminths Haemonchus contortus and
Fasciola hepatica with the objective of developing a new therapeutic possibility to control these two
devastating infections for humans and animals.Several eco-friendly preparations have also been
proposed to control R. microplus. A few other factors are discussed in this chapter.