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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2017
Gastrointestinal parasitism is estimated to cost the British sheep industry £83M per annum and these losses could be reduced by breeding sheep with enhanced resistance to parasites (Nieuwhof and Bishop 2005). However, there is concern that parasites could adapt to more resistant hosts through the increased selection pressure placed on parasite populations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of Trichostrongylus colubriformis to adapt to host genotype following long-term exposure. We hypothesised that T. colubriformis would adapt, as measured by egg output, differentially to hosts selected for either increased (IR) or decreased (DR) parasite resistance following long-term serial passage.