A powerful new discovery from Queensland researchers may offer a breakthrough in the battle against parasitic worms plaguing Australia’s livestock industry. A toxin extracted from the skin of the notoriously venomous stonefish has shown promising results in killing intestinal parasites without harming mammal cells.
A Surprising Source of Hope
Researchers at James Cook University in Far North Queensland, led by PhD candidate Danica Lennox-Bulow, have identified a toxin secreted from wart-like nodules on the skin of stonefish, different from the venom typically associated with the animal’s spines.
“This toxin is completely different from the venom in both its composition and its function,” said Lennox-Bulow. “It’s secreted from these pimple-like structures called tubercles, which span the fish’s skin.”
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The study was prompted by an intriguing observation: despite their scaleless skin and sedentary, bottom-dwelling lifestyle, stonefish exhibited an unusually low presence of internal parasites.
“That raised a big question—could this skin toxin be protecting them from parasites?” Lennox-Bulow said.
Testing the Toxin
The researchers extracted skin toxins from both reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) and estuarine stonefish (Synanceia horrida). When tested against a skin-burrowing hookworm species that infects rodents, the toxins displayed high lethality.
“We found a high mortality rate in the parasites,” said Lennox-Bulow.
Further analysis involved separating the toxin into small and large molecular components using a centrifuge. The reef stonefish’s toxic effects vanished upon separation, suggesting a synergistic relationship between its components. Meanwhile, the smaller components from the estuarine stonefish retained their toxicity—an exciting discovery.
“Small components are preferred for therapeutics because they’re more stable, easier to synthesize, and often orally bioavailable,” Lennox-Bulow explained.
Crucially, the components showed minimal effect on human and mammal cells, making them potential candidates for future treatments.
A Costly Threat to Livestock
According to Dr Anne Beasley from the University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture, gastrointestinal worms are a major issue for livestock, particularly sheep, goats, and cattle.
“Parasitic worms can cause weight loss, decreased wool and milk production, and even death,” said Beasley. “The cost to the sheep industry alone is estimated at over $600 million per year.”
The parasites feed on blood or damage the intestinal lining, severely compromising animal health in a short period.
Resistance to Current Treatments
Beasley warned that worms are developing resistance to current anthelmintics at an alarming rate. With some species capable of laying 5,000–10,000 eggs per female daily, the evolutionary pressure has led to widespread drug resistance.
“We’ve been using the same drug classes for decades, and the worms have simply adapted,” she said.
The Need for Innovation
Beasley praised the stonefish toxin research as a creative and much-needed approach.
“The need for alternative treatments is critical,” she said. “We need researchers thinking outside the box and screening novel compounds like this.”
However, she noted that the road to commercial application is long and costly, potentially taking years and millions of dollars.
“There are serious losses happening now due to parasitic infestations, so the more attention and research we can put into this area, the better.”
Looking Ahead
Lennox-Bulow and her team hope to expand their research by testing the toxin’s effects across different worm species and in mammalian hosts. The goal is to confirm the compound’s selective toxicity and begin developing therapeutic applications.
“This could be a game-changer for both veterinary and human medicine,” she said. “We’re only just beginning to understand its full potential.”
The research, published in the journal Toxins, represents a significant step forward in the search for innovative parasite control strategies—and possibly the beginning of a new chapter in medical and agricultural treatment options.
