RAY M. KAPLAN
Associate Professor

The primary research focus of my laboratory is to measure, understand,and solve the problems presented by drug-resistant parasites. Over thepast forty years, the availability of cheap and effective anthelminticdrugs has led to an almost complete reliance on these chemicals forparasite control in animals. Chemical-based parasite control wasextremely effective for many years, but we now know that this strategyhas turned out to be shortsighted and unsustainable. Parasite drug resistance is now recognized globally as one of the greatest healththreats to grazing livestock. Also, in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of mass drug administration to reduce the morbidity associated with helminth infections of humans, raising the likelihood that anthelmintic resistance may become a public health concern in the near future.

Over the past several years, a major focus of my research program has been the investigation of the molecular basis of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins (small strongyles) of horses. However, of current great interest to our laboratory is the impact of mass anthelmintic treatment programs for soil-transmitted helminths and for lymphatic filariasis on the selection for drug resistance. To address this interest we have initiated several projects to investigate the population biology and the molecular basis of anthelmintic resistance in the human parasites Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. Approaches we are using include targeted single gene studies as well as multi-gene studies using microarrays.

We are also involved in studies investigating novel and sustainable approaches to nematode parasite control in livestock. Much of this work is being conducted under the auspices of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (www.scsrpc.org) in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of veterinarians, and scientists, and extension personnel from institutions throughout the southern United States as well as the University of Pretoria and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in South Africa.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

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Van Wyk, J.A,. H. Hoste, R.M. Kaplan, R.B. Besier 2006.  Targeted selective treatment for worm management - how do we sell rational programs to farmers? Veterinary Parasitology, 139:336-346.

Tandon, R.,K.T. LePage, and R.M. Kaplan  2006.  Cloning and characterization of genes encoding a and b subunits of glutamate-gated chloride channel protein in Cylicocyclus nassatus. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 150:46-55.

Schwenkenbecher, J.M. and Kaplan, R.M.  2007.  Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum.  Parasitology Research, 100:1015-1021.

Kaplan, R.M., A. N. Vidyashankar, S.B. Howell, J.M. Neiss, L.H. Williamson, and T.H. Terrill. 2007.  A novel approach for combining the use of in vitro and in vivo data to measure and detect emerging moxidectin resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. International Journal for Parasitology, 37:795-804.

Burke, J.M., R.M. Kaplan, J.E. Miller, T.H. Terrill, W.R. Getz, S. Mobini, E. Valencia, M.J. Williams, L.H. Williamson and A.F. Vatta.  2007. Accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by sheep and goat producers in the southeastern United States. Veterinary Parasitology 147:89-95.

Nielsen, M.K., R.M. Kaplan, S.M.Thamsborg, J. Monrad, and S.N. Olsen.  2007. Climatic influences on development and survival of free-living stages of equine strongyles: Implications for worm control strategies and managing anthelmintic resistance.  The Veterinary Journal, 174:23-32.

Shaik, S. A., Terrill, T. H., Miller, J. E., Kouakou, B., Kannan, G., Kaplan, R. M., Burke, J. M. and Mosjidis, J. A. 2006. Sericea lespedeza hay as a natural deworming agent against gastrointestinal nematode infection in goats. Veterinary Parasitology, 139 (1-3):150-7.

Fleming, S A., T. Craig, R.M. Kaplan, J. E. Miller, C. Navarre, M. Rings. 2006. Consensus Statement on: Anthelmintic resistance of gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 20:435-150;444.

Tandon, R., Lyons, E. T., Tolliver, S. C. and Kaplan, R. M. 2005. Effect of moxidectin selection on the genetic variation within Cylicocyclus nassatus based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). International Journal for Parasitology 35(7): 813-819.

Clark, H. J., Kalan, R. M., Matthews, J. B. and Hodginson, J. E. 2005. Isolation and characterisation of a beta tubulin isotype 2 gene from two species of cyathostomin. International Journal for Parasitology, 35:4, 349-358.

Terrill, T.H., Larsen, M., Samples, O., Husted, S., Miller, J. E., Kaplan, R. M., and Gelaye, S. 2004. Capability of the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans to reduce infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes in goat feces in the southeastern United States: dose titration and dose time interval studies. Veterinary Parasitology, 120(4), 285-96.

Kaplan, R. M., Burke, J. M., Terrill, T. H., Miller, J. E., Getz, W. R., Mobini, S., Valencia, E., Williams, M. J., Williamson, L. H., Larsen, M. and Vatta, A. F. Vatta. 2004. Validation of the FAMACHA© eye color chart for detecting clinical anemia in sheep and goats on farms in the southern United States. Veterinary Parasitology, 123: 105-120.

Tandon, R. and Kaplan, R. M. 2004. Evaluation of a larval development assay (DrenchRite®) for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin nematodes of horses. Veterinary Parasitology, 121:125-142.

Kaplan, R. M. 2004. Drug resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance: A status report. Trends in Parasitology, 20(10): 477-481.

Kaplan, R. M., Klei, T. R., Lyons, E. T., Lester, G. D., French, D. D., Tolliver, S. C., Courtney, C. H., Zhao, Y. and Vidyashankar, A. 2004. Prevalence of anthelmintic resistant cyathostomes on horse farms. JAVMA, 225(6): 903-910.

Kaplan, R. M., Matthews, J.B., Dowdall, S. M. J., Baudena, M. A., Klei, T. R., von Samson-Himmelstjerna, G., Drogermuller, M. and Schnieder, T. 2004. Equine cyathostomins. Veterinary Parasitology, 125, 203-220.

Stuedemann, J. A., Kaplan, R. M., Ciordia, H., Franzluebbers, A. J., Stewart, T. B., and Seman, D. H. 2004. Bermudagrass management in the Southern Piedmont USA: V. Gastrointestinal parasite control in cattle. Veterinary Parasitology, 126: 375-385.

Mortensen, L. L., Williamson, L. H., Terrill, T. H., Kircher, R., Larsen, M., and Kaplan, R. M. 2003. Evaluation and prevalence and clinical implications of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. JAVMA. 223(4):495-500.

Kaplan, R.M. 2002. Anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of horses. Veterinary Research, 33:491-507.

Kaplan, R. M. 2001. Liver Flukes in Cattle: A Review of the Economic Impact and Considerations for Control. Veterinary Therapeutics, 2(1):40-50.

Terrill, T. H., Kaplan, R. M., Larsen, M., Samples, O. M., Miller, J. E. and Gelaye, S. 2001. Anthelmintic Resistance on Goat Farms in Georgia—Efficacy of Anthelmintics against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Two Selected Goat Herds. Veterinary Parasitology, 97:261-268.

Tarigo-Martinie, J. L., Wyatt, A. R. and Kaplan, R. M. 2001. Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Anthelmintic Resistance in Cyathostomes of Horses. JAVMA, 218(12):1957-1960.

Kaplan, R. M. and S. E. Little. 2000. Controlling equine cyathostomes. Equine Forum, Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 22(4):391-395.

Email
rkaplan@vet.uga.edu

Office
2212A Vet Med
706-542-5670

Degrees
BS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1983
DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1988
PhD, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1995

COS Profile
myprofile.cos.com/rkaplan