Texas A&M Creates Fast Treatment for Deadly Livestock Pest

When a rancher finds a screwworm-infested calf, every minute counts, but until now there's been no fast treatment to save that animal's life.

Texas A&M engineers are changing that with a new wound treatment that kills the deadly larvae on contact. The foam and spray formulations stick directly to infected wounds, using smaller doses of medication than current treatments that force ranchers to dose an entire animal just to treat one injury.

The timing couldn't be more urgent. The New World screwworm, a parasite that feeds on living tissue, has exploded across Central America and Mexico with more than 150,000 animal cases reported. Cases have now appeared in Texas and New Mexico, and federal models predict a major Texas outbreak could cost more than $1.8 billion in livestock losses.

Dr. Mustafa Akbulut leads the engineering team tackling this national biosecurity threat. They're developing three ready-to-use products: a wound-conforming foam for deep coverage, a bio-adhesive spray for quick application, and an immersion wash for treating multiple animals efficiently.

"Releasing sterile flies is how you beat screwworm across a whole region, but it works over months," Akbulut explained. "It does nothing for the infested calf standing in the chute today. We are building that missing piece."

The treatments combine traditional medications with natural compounds like neem and eugenol. This innovative approach kills larvae rapidly while leaving minimal chemical residues in meat, milk, and the environment.

The project addresses a painful reality for ranchers and veterinarians who currently have no immediate solution when they discover an infected animal. Without treatment, screwworm can cause devastating deaths in livestock, companion animals, and wildlife.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond saving individual animals, this research protects America's food supply and agricultural economy. The team is creating stockpile-ready procedures and cost-benefit frameworks to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture respond quickly to future outbreaks.

Researchers will test how effectively the products eliminate young parasites and measure how long any residues remain in cattle. These data will support the regulatory approval needed for nationwide deployment, giving ranchers across the country access to life-saving treatment.

The project brings together experts from Texas A&M's chemical engineering, entomology, animal science, and food microbiology departments, plus veterinary specialists from Texas Tech University. This collaborative approach ensures the final products will work in real ranch conditions, not just in laboratories.

For producers facing the threat of screwworm's northward march, help is finally on the horizon in a form they can pull off a shelf and use immediately.