Application of small RNA technology for improved control of parasitic helminths.

•MicroRNAs and siRNAs in helminth post-transcriptional gene regulation are reviewed.•Many parasitic helminth miRNAs are unique and developmentally expressed.•miRNAs released by parasites have diagnostic potential, particularly for filarial and schistosome spp.•Parasite and host miRNAs may regulate immune responses.•Improvements to siRNA-mediated gene silencing are important for functional genomics.