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New weapon against drench resistance lands in Australia

Telenostic

 Dawbuts Pty Ltd, Australia's premier provider of livestock parasitology services, is launching the OvaCyte analyser into Australia, bringing third-generation AI-powered parasite diagnostics to producers, veterinarians and rural advisers nationwide. Developed by Telenostic, the new technology addresses the cost, time and inconvenience of traditional faecal egg count testing, delivering highly accurate parasite diagnostics at the point of care.

Using a 7ml cassette, the system captures up to 180 images of worm eggs floating in saline solution, which are then identified and counted through an AI engine. The analyser connects via Wi-Fi or a mobile phone hotspot, making it practical for use in rural locations.

Sample preparation takes just two minutes and requires no centrifuge or specialist reagents other than saturated saline. This means producers can make decisions on drenching and management immediately rather than waiting for several days or weeks on laboratory testing and results via post or courier.

“We’ve been keeping a close eye on point-of-care options for livestock diagnostics,” said Dr. Playford, Dawbuts Managing Director and veterinarian. “Recent advances in optical technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have led to massive progress in this space and Telenostic has done an incredible job in harnessing it into a single unit for sheep, cattle and horses.”

“The biggest plus is that it can distinguish the eggs of sheep barber’s pole worms and pathogenic coccidia straight away in a rapid and affordable system, allowing our farmers to make fast and confident drenching decisions,” he continued.

The most sensitive system available

One of OvaCyte's standout features is its exceptional sensitivity, detecting as few as three eggs per gram of dung, making it the most sensitive automated system currently available. This makes it suitable for monitoring sheep, cattle and horses, as well as conducting drench resistance testing. The analyser also identifies and counts coccidial oocysts, giving warning of coccidiosis before clinical signs appear, while a separate testing cassette enables rapid detection of liver fluke and paramphistome eggs, assisting with the diagnosis of flukicide resistance.

The instant identification of sheep barber's pole worm (Haemonchus) during or after the egg count allows producers and advisers to make more informed drenching decisions using tools such as WormBoss, while also providing valuable estimates of pasture larval contamination. The cost per test is comparable to existing automated faecal egg count systems, making the technology accessible without increasing testing costs. Users are supported by the expertise of the Dawbuts reference laboratory.

Supporting the national rollout, Dawbuts has appointed Dr. David Homer, formerly national Veterinarian with Nutrien Ag Solutions, to lead sales, support and development of the OvaCyte business across Australia. With extensive experience working with rural retailers and veterinarians, David is helping ensure producers get the most from the technology on farm and point of care.

“Drench resistance is one of the most significant challenges facing livestock producers, and better treatment decisions begin with fast, reliable information”, explains Telenostic CEO, Jamie Fennelly. “OvaCyte was developed to make high-quality parasite diagnostics practical at the point of care, giving veterinarians, advisers and producers the evidence they need to treat more selectively and help preserve the effectiveness of existing drenches.

“OvaCyte is already well established in international markets across Europe and North America, with over half a million scans completed through the platform to date. We are extremely excited to bring the technology to Australia, and we could not ask for a better partner than Dawbuts. Their exceptional scientific expertise, specialist reference laboratory capabilities and trusted standing across the Australian livestock industry give OvaCyte the strongest possible foundation in this market. Importantly, they also bring a deep, practical understanding of the parasite-management challenges facing Australian producers and how this technology can deliver meaningful benefits on farm,” he adds.

Irish innovation meets Australian expertise

Eoin Hughes, Agribusiness Market Advisor, Australia and New Zealand, Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government's trade and innovation agency supporting Telenostic in the Australian market, says: “Telenostic's launch into Australia is a great example of the world-class innovation coming out of Ireland's agritech sector. With drench resistance a growing and costly challenge for Australian livestock producers, the OvaCyte analyser arrives at exactly the right time, giving farmers, vets and rural advisers lab-quality results at the point of care so they can treat only the animals that need it and help preserve the effectiveness of existing drenches.

“Partnering with Dawbuts, Australia's premier provider of livestock parasitology services, gives Telenostic the strongest possible foundation in this market. It's a partnership that combines Irish technology with trusted local expertise, and we look forward to seeing it deliver real benefits for Australian producers,” he adds.

The OvaCyte analyser is available for stores and clinics now, please visit www.dawbuts.com for more information.

About us:

About Dawbuts: Dawbuts Pty Ltd is Australia's premier provider of livestock parasitology services, offering diagnostic testing, research and advisory services to producers, veterinarians and the animal health industry, backed by its own reference laboratory. www.dawbuts.com

About Telenostic: Telenostic is a global technology company based in Ireland creating world-leading digital parasitology diagnostic solutions. Telenostic has successfully brought accurate, affordable, efficient, and automated parasite analysis technologies to the point of care, removing the cost, delays and logistics of sending samples to an external laboratory  www.telenostic.com

Contact details:

Louise Nealon, PR With Purpose, +61 417 478 965, [email protected]