Analysis of Strongyle Egg Shedding Consistency in Horses and Factors That Affect It

Lester, Hannah; Morgan, Eric R.; Hodgkinson, Jane E.; Matthews, Jacqueline B.

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2017.04.006

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Anthelmintic resistance is a threatening problem to the livestock industry and posing very serious threats to the future welfare and production of livestock throughout the world. Recently, several studies have been evaluating the control and management of gastrointestinal helminth (GIH) in horses in the UK and other countries in the EU (Matthee et al ., 2002; Lind et al ., 2007; Relf et al ., 2012, 2014; Lester et al ., 2013; Bolwell et al ., 2015; Papini et al ., 2015; Lester et al ., 2018). An intensive use of anthelmintic drugs, use of the same drug class and underdosing have been reported as the main factors contributing to the development of resistance in horse nematodes (Shalaby, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questionnaire survey on helminth control practices in horse farms in Ireland

Elghryani

Duggan

Relf³

et al. 2019

Parasitology

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Knowledge regarding helminth control strategies and nematode infection of horses in Ireland is limited and only one study has been published recently. This present study was designed to investigate the current helminth control strategies followed by horse owners in Ireland. A questionnaire was formulated to collect data on general grazing, pasture management and deworming strategies including the use of fecal egg counts. Questionnaires were emailed to 700 members of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Horse Sport Ireland. Only 78 questionnaires were returned. Respondents indicated that horses are grazed for 16–24 h day−1 during the summer and autumn (89% and 65%, respectively). Removing feces from the pasture was implemented by 37.6% of respondents. Few (22.2%) owners kept horses off pasture after worming. Overall, ivermectin and moxidectin were the most commonly administered anthelmintics in 2014 by 75% and 62% of respondents, respectively. Benzimidazole and pyrantel drugs were used by 53% and 35% of respondents, respectively. The majority of farms (81.4%) treated horses 4–5 times per year and 74.2% only estimated the weight of the horses visually. The findings of this study illustrates that many stud managers/owners do not follow best practice with regard to helminth control and more education is needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questionnaire survey on helminth control practices in horse farms in Ireland

Elghryani

Duggan

Relf³

et al. 2019

Parasitology

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“…The fundamental principle is to define an FEC threshold, above which horses receive anthelmintic treatment 28 . Strategies often revolve around 2 yearly faecal samples collected in the spring and autumn, 29,30 but some include more frequent samplings 31,32 . The eight sample collections in group MB of this study may be excessive for most adult horse populations, but the data obtained demonstrate that overall strongylid egg shedding can be controlled with very few anthelmintic treatments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Monitoring equine ascarid and cyathostomin parasites: Evaluating health parameters under different treatment regimens

Nielsen

Gee

Hansen

et al. 2020

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Background Strongylid and ascarid parasites are omnipresent in equine stud farms, and ever‐increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance are challenging the industry with finding more sustainable and yet effective parasite control programs. Objectives To evaluate egg count levels, bodyweight and equine health under defined parasite control protocols in foals and mares at two Standardbred and two Thoroughbred stud farms. Study design Longitudinal randomised field trial. Methods A total of 93 foals were enrolled and split into two treatment groups, and 99 mares were enrolled and assigned to three treatment groups. All horses underwent a health examination, and episodes of colic or diarrhoea were recorded at each faecal collection date. Bodyweights were assessed using a weight tape, and mares were body condition scored. Group A foals (FA) were dewormed at 2 and 5 months of age with a fenbendazole/ivermectin/praziquantel product, while group B foals (FB) were dewormed on a monthly basis, alternating between the above‐mentioned product and an oxfendazole/pyrantel embonate product. Group A mares (MA) were dewormed twice with fenbendazole/ivermectin/praziquantel, group B mares (MB) were dewormed with the same product, when egg counts exceeded 300 strongylid eggs per gram, and group C mares (MC) were dewormed every 2 months, alternating between the two products. Health data were collected monthly for 6 months (foals) and bimonthly for 13 months (mares). Data were analysed with mixed linear models and interpreted at the α = 0.05 significance level. Results There were no significant bodyweight differences between foal groups, but MA mares were significantly lighter than the other two groups. Very few health incidents were recorded. Foals in group FA had significantly higher ascarid and strongylid egg counts, whereas no significant differences were observed between mare groups. Main limitations Study duration limited to one season. Conclusions Anthelmintic treatment intensity was lowered from the traditional intensive regimes without measurable negative health consequences for mares and foals.

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“…The distribution of strongyle egg count levels reported herein are different from those reported in managed horses, where an overwhelming majority (50–75%) is in the low contaminator category (Relf et al ., 2013; Lester et al ., 2018). Consequently, the 80:20 distribution rule that is often cited for horses (Becher et al ., 2010; Nielsen et al ., 2018), according to which 20% of animals shed about 80% of intestinal strongyle eggs, does not appear directly applicable for this donkey population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth infections in Italian donkeys: Strongylus vulgaris more common than Dictyocaulus arnfieldi

et al. 2021

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Donkeys have been used as working animals for transport and farm activities worldwide. Recently, in European countries, there has been an increasing interest in donkeys due to their use as pets, onotherapy or milk production. During 2014–2016, a countrywide survey was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of principal helminth infections in 1775 donkeys in 77 Italian farms. A questionnaire on management and parasite control practices was filled out for each farm. Faecal samples were examined using a modified McMaster technique, a centrifugation/flotation method and a sedimentation technique. Pooled coprocultures were performed for differentiation of strongylid eggs. Strongyles were the most common parasites detected (84.9%), followed by Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (6.9%), Oxyuris equi (5.8%), Parascaris spp. (3.6%), Anoplocephala spp. (1.0%), Strongyloides westeri (0.3%). Coprocultures revealed an omnipresence of cyathostomins (100%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (31.0%), Poteriostomum spp. (25.0%), Triodontophorus spp. (9.0%), Strongylus edentatus (7.0%), Strongylus equinus (5.0%). Logistic regression analysis identified breed, co-pasture with horses, living area, herd size and number of treatments as significantly associated with strongyles. Sex, age, living area and herd size were significantly associated with Parascaris spp. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was significantly associated with sex, grass, co-pasture with horses, living area and herd size. Strongylus vulgaris was significantly associated with living area and herd size. The mean number of anthelmintic treatments/year was 1.4; most of the donkeys (71.8%) were dewormed using an ivermectin drug. It is important to design parasite programs to specifically address both D. arnfieldi and S. vulgaris in donkeys, and this is especially important if donkeys co-graze with horses.

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Analysis of Strongyle Egg Shedding Consistency in Horses and Factors That Affect It

Cited by 16 publications

References 26 publications

Questionnaire survey on helminth control practices in horse farms in Ireland

Questionnaire survey on helminth control practices in horse farms in Ireland

Monitoring equine ascarid and cyathostomin parasites: Evaluating health parameters under different treatment regimens

Helminth infections in Italian donkeys: Strongylus vulgaris more common than Dictyocaulus arnfieldi

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