Screwworm Scientists Dig Into the DNA

New World screwworm has one highly unpleasant party trick: its larvae feed on living tissue. Now researchers want to learn whether the pest has another trick hiding in its genes.

DNA detectives: A Texas A&M University team is launching a two-year, roughly $4 million project to study thousands of screwworm specimens collected during the outbreak in Honduras. The goal is to understand how populations are connected, how they spread and whether their genetic makeup is changing.

Whole new level: Instead of examining only a handful of genes, the team will use whole-genome sequencing to build a more complete picture. That could help animal-health officials compare cases from different places and determine whether outbreaks share a common origin.

Resistance worries: Guilherme Verocai, associate professor of veterinary pathobiology at Texas A&M and the project’s lead researcher, hopes the work can help develop a test for drug-resistance markers. Resistant populations have been reported in parts of South America, but scientists do not yet know whether the current outbreak carries the same markers.

Barnyard stakes: The parasite can infest cattle, horses, sheep, pets, wildlife and people. Its larvae enter through wounds, causing injuries that can become fatal without treatment. The research effort will pair genetic findings with reports from veterinarians treating affected animals.

Why it matters: Quicker identification and stronger treatment intelligence could sharpen the response to a costly animal-health threat. The science is not a silver bullet, but it could give officials a much better worm’s-eye view of the problem.