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The CARLA® Saliva Test has been developed by AgResearch scientists as a sustainable tool for parasite management.
While chemicals can be administered to animals for parasite control, resistance to these has become a major issue. Breeding animals with improved natural resistance has been possible for many years and has been shown to result in fewer chemical treatments being necessary.
The CARLA® Saliva Test is a powerful breeding tool developed by AgResearch. The saliva test is a commercial service that assists in breeding for better host resistance to parasites in sheep, deer, and goat herds.
AgResearch’s CARLA® Saliva Test provides an accurate and simple way to select animals that suffer less from the effects of parasitic worms, and which pass fewer worm eggs onto pasture. The test measures antibodies against worm larvae in saliva; animals with high levels of antibodies are better at preventing worms from establishing in the gut. This means animals can put more of their energy into production without any adverse effects like more dags.
This innovative tool is primarily used for stud breeders to identify and breed animals with improved genetics to control parasite challenge. It can also be used by commercial farmers to directly select replacement female breeding stock.
Talk to AgResearch, your stud breeder or genetics supplier about how to best utilize the test for you.
Our CARLA® Saliva Test is a great option:
Carbohydrate larval antigen (CarLA) is found on the surface of all infective nematode larvae and is released after the larvae have begun to develop after being consumed by a grazing animal. The animal's mucosal immune system can produce antibodies against CarLA that prevent the larval stage from establishing in the host. This antibody response can be measured in saliva.
What does the CARLA® Saliva Test do?
Some animals produce more CarLA antibodies than others. Our saliva test is a simple method to test for the presence and level of these protective antibodies. Testing involves taking a swab of saliva and sending it to AgResearch for analysis. The test result provides the level of CarLA antibody present at the time of sampling.
What happens once I order my saliva tests?
Your tests will be delivered to your farm gate, where you can complete the swab tests, sending all samples back with a short turnaround time to be provided with comprehensive results.
How long does the saliva test take?
The saliva sampling test itself only takes about 30 seconds per animal and combines well with other tasks where the tag is recorded i.e., muscle scanning and weighing. An efficient sampling team would consist of a team of 3 people; one person to handle tubes and record tag numbers and two people for sampling. Once the workflow is set up, it is reasonable to sample over 120 animals per hour.
How do I carry out the saliva test?
Clamp your cotton roll in forceps and place this inside the buccal cavity (pouch between inside of cheek and jaw) of your animal, swabbing back and forth for 7 seconds. Then place your cotton roll in the provided labelled vial, and place in an iced cooler bag until you can place them in the freezer. Please arrange for your samples to be then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Where do I send my saliva test?
CARLA® Saliva Test Unit, Hopkirk Research Institute, Corner University Avenue and Library Road, Palmerston North 4442
How long until I get my results back?
Once your samples have been received by the laboratory, you can expect results within 7 working days.
How much does it cost?
For sampling more than 60 animals, the cost of sampling is $13 (excluding GST) per sample.
When is the best time to test?
For best results, test animals between 5-9 months of age (February-June) or at the peak of larval challenge (late May-June). Timing is less critical if CARLA® breeding values are calculated, as breeding values from February-June samplings are all highly correlated with each other.
For new clients, it is recommended to send a monitor sample test of 20-30 animals approximately one week before your intended testing date for AgResearch to confirm there has been sufficient larval challenge to deliver good results.
CARLA® breeders are typically using one of the two following strategies:
How do I interpret my CARLA® result?
Your CARLA® report will show a graph of the concentration of CarLA antibodies in your animal's saliva, indicating a level of protection from incoming parasite larvae. When larval protection is medium or high, animals have good protective immunity against incoming parasite larvae. Your results can be uploaded to Sheep Improvement Limited (SIL) database for generating eBVs (breeding values) for registered users. This is the best estimate of an animal’s genetic potential to generate CarLA antibodies in response to a larval challenge.
Can CARLA® be combined with other methods?
Yes, CARLA® is effective on its own, but a combined approach is even better:
Send an email to one of our team or check out our facilities located across Aotearoa New Zealand.
