Topic:Tapeworms
Tapeworms in horses, specifically Anoplocephala perfoliata, are parasitic flatworms that inhabit the equine gastrointestinal tract, primarily the ileocecal junction. These parasites are transmitted via oribatid mites, which serve as intermediate hosts, and are ingested by horses during grazing. Tapeworms can contribute to gastrointestinal disturbances and are associated with conditions such as colic and intestinal blockage. Diagnosis typically involves serological tests or fecal examinations to detect the presence of tapeworm-specific antigens or eggs. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and impact of tapeworm infections on equine health.
Natural products as anthelmintics: safeguarding animal health. Covering literature to December 2022This review provides a comprehensive account of all natural products (500 compounds, including 17 semi-synthetic derivatives) described in the primary literature up to December 2022, reported to be capable of inhibiting the egg hatching, motility, larval development and/or the survival of helminths (i.e., nematodes, flukes and tapeworms). These parasitic worms infect and compromise the health and welfare, productivity and lives of commercial livestock (i.e., sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and fish), companion animals (i.e., dogs and cats) and other hig...
Assessment of worm control practices recommended by equine veterinarians in Australia. This study aimed to assess Australian veterinarians' knowledge, perceptions and treatment strategies for worm control in horses with an online questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 64 questions covering various aspects of: (i) veterinary practice; (ii) the veterinarian's knowledge of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) and the importance of parasites in different age groups of horses; (iii) the diagnosis and control of worms; (iv) anthelmintics and anthelmintic resistance (AR); (v) grazing management; and (vi) the means of communication and the discussion between veterinarians and their cli...
Selective Anthelmintic Treatment in Horses in Sweden Based on Coprological Analyses: Ten-Year Results. In Sweden, routine deworming has been used for several decades; however, to slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance, selective treatment is currently recommended. As part of a monitoring programme, equestrian premises submitted faecal samples to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) twice per year between 2008 and 2017. Analyses for strongyles (small and large), tapeworms and ascarids, followed by premise-specific advice regarding deworming and parasite control strategies, were provided. In total, 43,330 faecal samples, collected from 26,625 horses on 935 premises in springtime ...
Apparent treatment failure of praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate against anoplocephalid tapeworms. Anoplocephalid tapeworms are commonly occurring in grazing horses around the world. Two currently available anthelmintics have documented high efficacy against Anoplocephala perfoliata; praziquantel in various dosages ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate administered at 13.2 mg base/kg. Anthelmintic resistance has not been reported in A. perfoliata, but anecdotal reports made during 2022 have suggested a possible loss of efficacy for both actives. This paper reports fecal egg count data from a Thoroughbred operation in Central Kentucky in 2023. Fifty-six yearlings were first de...
Synthesis and Clinical Examination of Novel Formulations of Ivermectin, Albendazole and Niclosamide for the Treatment of Equine Gastrointestinal Helminthoses. This study aimed to develop new complex preparations of ivermectin, niclosamide and albendazole based on solid-phase mechanochemical technology, and to evaluate their efficacy against equine nematodosis and cestodosis. Unassigned: Novel formulation of antiparasitic paste were prepared using joint mechano-chemical treatment of ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg bodyweight; BW), niclosamide (10 mg/kg BW) and albendazole (3, 5, 10 mg/kg BW) substances with polyvinylpyrrolidone and arabinogalactan. For the evaluation of activity of different doses of formulations against gastrointestinal tract helminths a tota...
A Comparison of the Colonic Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compound Metabolome of Anoplocephala perfoliata Infected and Non-Infected Horses: A Pilot Study. Anoplocephala perfoliata is a common equine tapeworm associated with an increased risk of colic (abdominal pain) in horses. Identification of parasite and intestinal microbiota interactions have consequences for understanding the mechanisms behind parasite-associated colic and potential new methods for parasite control. A. perfoliata was diagnosed by counting of worms in the caecum post-mortem. Bacterial DNA was extracted from colonic contents and sequenced targeting of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). The volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolome of colonic contents was characterised using gas...
Molecular identification of tapeworms from Konik Polski horses from Biebrza National Park. Tapeworm infections in Konik Polski horses from Biebrza National Park were investigated in this study. Faecal samples were collected 10 times: in 2012 - 1 time, in 2013 - 4 times, in 2014 - 4 times and in 2015 - 1 time. In total, 162 faecal samples were collected and tested. Faecal egg counts (FECs) method was used in the study. Positive samples with cestode eggs were noted only twice - in October 2012 and December 2013 in two adult mares (9 and 11 years old). The determined prevalence was surprisingly low comparing to other studies, 4.3% in October 2013 and 28.5% in December 2013. Parasite ge...
Echinococcus multilocularis infection in horses in Poland. A cross-sectional survey was performed to obtain first information on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in slaughter horses from central, eastern and southern Poland, a country with a highly endemic occurrence of this tapeworm in red foxes. White tough nodular lesions being 3-10 mm in size, sharply demarcated and spherically or irregularly shaped were found in 54 of 365 livers examined. Histologically, focal granulomatous necrotizing inflammations and sometimes PAS-positive acellular lamellar structures being characteristic of the E. multilocularis metacestode stage were...
Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Colic and Non-Colic Control Equine Patients. All around the world, intestinal helminths constitute one of the most prevalent life-long occurring infections and re-infections affecting all horse age groups. A range of parasite species among strongyles, ascarids, and tapeworms is known to have the potential to cause colic in horses. However, there is a lack of current scientific evidence on the actual relevance of helminth infection levels in the context of colic in horses kept during prevailing epidemiological conditions. Thus, a prospective case-control study on the occurrence of intestinal helminths in a total of 620 mainly adult equine...
Investigations on the occurrence of tapeworm infections in German horse populations with comparison of different antibody detection methods based on saliva and serum samples. Effective and sustainable worm control in horses would benefit from detailed information about the current regional occurrence of tapeworms. Different diagnostic methods are currently available to detect Anoplocephala spp. infections in horses. However, the format as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the methods vary considerably. Methods: A coprological, serological and questionnaire study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of tapeworm infections on 48 horse farms in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. In total, faecal samples of 484 horses were a...
Not playing by the rules: Unusual patterns in the epidemiology of parasites in a natural population of feral horses (Equus caballus) on Sable Island, Canada. Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada hosts one of few natural populations of feral horses (Equus caballus) never exposed to anthelmintics. Coproculture revealed cyathostomes, Strongylus equinus, S. edentatus, and S. vulgaris, with S. equinus (unusually) dominating in adult horses and cyathostomes dominating in young horses (<3 years of age). We examined 35 horses found dead in the springs of 2017 and 2018, as well as fecal samples from live horses in spring (n = 45) and summer 2018 (n = 236) using McMaster fecal flotation and Baermann larval sedimentation on fresh samples, and modified Wiscon...
Compilation of 29 years of postmortem examinations identifies major shifts in equine parasite prevalence from 2000 onwards. Horses are infected by a wide range of parasite species that form complex communities. Parasite control imposes significant constraints on parasite communities whose monitoring remains, however, difficult to track through time. Postmortem examination is a reliable method to quantify parasite communities. Here, we compiled 1,673 necropsy reports accumulated over 29 years, in the reference necropsy centre from Normandy (France). The burden of non-strongylid species was quantified and the presence of strongylid species was noted. Details of horse deworming history and the cause of death were reg...
Parasites in Horses Kept in A 2.5 Year-Round Grazing System in Nordic Conditions without Supplementary Feeding. Horse grazing can be favorable from a biological diversity perspective. This study documented the occurrence of endo- and ectoparasites and sought to reduce parasite egg excretion with the anthelmintic drug pyrantel in 12 Gotlandsruss stallions maintained in a year-round grazing system for 2.5 years. Feces samples were collected monthly and all horses were treated with pyrantel, the anthelmintic drug of choice in biological diversity preservation, at study population mean cyathostomin eggs per gram (EPG) of >200. The relationship between cyathostomin EPG and body condition was studied, as was ...
Analysis of caecal mucosal inflammation and immune modulation during Anoplocephala perfoliata infection of horses. Anoplocephala perfoliata is the commonest equine tapeworm, the adult parasites are attached in groups close to the ileocaecal valve causing marked inflammatory pathology. This work aimed to characterize the nature of the in vivo mucosal immune response to A perfoliata, and to investigate the role of A perfoliata excretory-secretory components in modulating in vitro immune responses. Real-time PCR detected elevation of IL13 and TGFβ transcription in early-stage A perfoliata infection. In late-stage infection, IL-13, IL4 and Ifn transcripts were reduced while the regulatory cytokines, TGFβ...
Anoplocephala perfoliata Infection in Horses in Iceland: Investigation of Associations Between Intensity of Infection and Lesions. In Iceland, there is at least 1 horse for every 5 human inhabitants, mostly kept on uncultivated rangelands. Although the Icelandic horse is considered robust compared with other breeds, it is nevertheless susceptible to disease. Few studies have investigated the prevalence of intestinal parasites in horses in Iceland. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata, in horses in Iceland and to explore associations between intensity of infection and the severity of macroscopic pathological lesions in this population. In addition, the relation...
Determination of the specific gravity of eggs of equine strongylids, Parascaris spp., and Anoplocephala perfoliata. Given the ever-increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites globally, it is recommended to use parasite fecal egg counts to make treatment decisions and to evaluate treatment efficacy. The consensus in equine parasitology is to use a flotation medium with a specific gravity (SG) of ≥ 1.20 to float the main parasite egg types of interest in egg counting techniques. However, the density of common equine endoparasite eggs has been sparsely investigated. Equine tapeworm eggs are known to be particularly difficult to determine and count in fecal samples. It is unknown wheth...
Postmortem examination (2016-2017) of weanling and older horses for the presence of select species of endoparasites: Gasterophilus spp., Anoplocephala spp. and Strongylus spp. in specific anatomical sites. Parasite infections are more quantifiable postmortem than antemortem in horses. Thus a study was carried out examining dead horses for specific parasite species. Most of the weanling and older horses submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) for postmortem examination between November 22, 2016 and March 23, 2017 were examined for certain species of internal parasites. The stomach and duodenum from 69 horses were examined for bots (Gasterophilus spp.). Combined data for both Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred (16 other than Thoroughbred breeds/mixed breeds)...
Seasonal variation in the prevalence of equine tapeworms using coprological diagnosis during a seven-year period in Denmark. We investigated the prevalence of equine tapeworms, Anoplocephala spp., in Danish horses during a seven-year period assessed by coprological analysis. The data material included >11,000 observations distributed over the period 2009-2015, and four major geographic regions in Denmark representing sandy soils and clayey moraine soils, respectively. This allowed us to test for possible differences between regions (or soil types) and seasons. For a sub-set of the data (about 1200 observations) age of horses was also known, and it was shown that prevalence was highest in the age group 1-5years and t...
Use of a saliva-based diagnostic test to identify tapeworm infection in horses in the UK. Anthelmintic resistance combined with limited chemotherapeutic options has prompted a change in approaches to control of equine helminth infections. Targeted selective treatment strategies use diagnostics to reduce anthelmintic use by treating individuals with worm burdens or egg shedding levels above a set threshold. While faecal egg count analysis has limitations for informing tapeworm treatment, a commercially available saliva-based diagnostic test accurately diagnoses horses with tapeworm infection. Objective: Evaluation of a saliva-based diagnostic test to identify horses naturally infect...
Anoplocephala sp. (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea) infection in horses in Central Italy. Species of Anoplocephalidae are cestodes affecting equines worldwide and causing many intestinal disorders. Between October 2010 and September 2013, 284 faecal samples of horses originating from Lazio Region (Central Italy) were tested for the presence of Anoplocephala sp. eggs by a classic copromicroscopic technique. Data regarding pasture‑dependence/non dependence, age, and sex of the horses were also collected. Statistical analysis, aimed at detecting possible associations between these variables and Anoplocephala sp. prevalence, was performed. Anoplocephala sp. eggs were found in 13% of ...
Efficacy of moxidectin and an ivermectin-praziquantel combination against ascarids, strongyles, and tapeworms in Thoroughbred yearlings in field tests on a farm in Central Kentucky in 2016. Field tests were performed on Thoroughbred yearlings (n=143), evaluating efficacy of moxidectin (MOX) against ascarids and strongyles and the efficacy of an ivermectin (IVM)-praziquantel (PRAZ) combination against those nematodes and tapeworms on a farm in Central Kentucky. The study was started on March 1, 2016 and completed on August 23, 2016. Fecal samples were collected from yearlings every two weeks for counts of ascarid and strongyle eggs per gram of feces (EPGs) and for determining the presence of tapeworm eggs. MOX was given to 88 yearlings on March 1; 55 yearlings were nontreated cont...
Validation of a novel saliva-based ELISA test for diagnosing tapeworm burden in horses. Tapeworm infections pose a significant threat to equine health as they are associated with clinical cases of colic. Diagnosis of tapeworm burden using fecal egg counts (FECs) is unreliable, and, although a commercial serologic ELISA for anti-tapeworm antibodies is available, it requires a veterinarian to collect the blood sample. A reliable diagnostic test using an owner-accessible sample such as saliva could provide a cost-effective alternative for tapeworm testing in horses, and allow targeted deworming strategies. Objective: The purpose of the study was to statistically validate a saliva ta...
Colic in a working horse population in Egypt: Prevalence and risk factors. Colic is an important health problem in managed horse populations. Currently, there is limited information about colic prevalence and risk factors for colic in working horse populations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, colic in a working horse population in Egypt and to describe management practices in this working horse population. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Owners of 350 working horses were interviewed. Data about their horses, management and colic episodes in the preceding 12 months were collected. Dental examination was conducted on 342 horse...
First serological study of equine hydatidosis in Iran. Hydatidosis, is an important worldwide zoonotic disease caused by larval stages (metacestodes) of tapeworm parasites of the genus Echinococcus. The objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of equine hydatidosis in Iran by latex agglutination test. This study also served to correlate sex and age with mentioned results in cases. Therefore, 193 serum samples were collected from clinically healthy horses at 9 race clubs in Kerman, Yazd and Golestan provinces, Iran. According to the results, antibodies against hydatidosis were detected in 6 sera (3.11 %) among 193 samples...
The anthelmintic efficacy of natural plant cysteine proteinases against the equine tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata in vitro. Papaya latex has been demonstrated to be an efficacious anthelmintic against murine, porcine, ovine and canine nematode parasites, and even those infecting poultry, and it has some efficacy against rodent cestodes. The active ingredients of papaya latex are known to be cysteine proteinases (CPs). The experiments described in this paper indicate that CPs in papaya latex, and also those in pineapples, are highly efficacious against the equine cestode Anoplocephala perfoliata in vitro, by causing a significant reduction in motility leading to death of the worms. The susceptibility of A. perfoliat...
Seasonal changes of diagnostic potential in the detection of Anoplocephala perfoliata equine infections in the climate of Central Europe. For this study, 724 gastrointestinal tracts of slaughter horses were investigated to determine the prevalence, intensity of Anoplocephala perfoliata and tapeworm development stages over the second, third and fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. For each positive horse, faecal samples were collected from the rectum or small colon for coproscopic examinations. The samples were analysed using dedicated modified sedimentation-flotation methods. In total, 52 horses were infected with A. perfoliata in the course of the study, with an overall prevalence of 7.2 %. The prevalence chang...
Endoparasites of horses from the Formiga city, located in center-west region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. With the aim of studying the endoparasite fauna of horses from the Formiga city, located in center-west region of the state of Minas Gerais, 25 animals that were naturally infected with helminths were evaluated. By means of parasitological necropsies, different endoparasites were found. The subfamily Cyathostominae presented the highest incidence, followed by Trichostrongylus axei, Oxyuris equi, Triodontophorus serratus, Strongyloides westeri, Strongylus edentatus, Habronema muscae, Parascaris equorum, Probstmayria vivipara, Strongylus vulgaris, Gasterophilus nasalis, Anoplocephala magna and A...
New multiplex PCR method for the simultaneous diagnosis of the three known species of equine tapeworm. Although several techniques exist for the detection of equine tapeworms in serum and feces, the differential diagnosis of tapeworm infection is usually based on postmortem findings and the morphological identification of eggs in feces. In this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for the simultaneuos detection of Anoplocephala magna, Anoplocephala perfoliata and Anoplocephaloides mamillana has been developed and validated. The method simultaneously amplifies hypervariable SSUrRNA gene regions in the three tapeworm species in a single reaction using three pairs of pri...
Coprologically diagnosing Anoplocephala perfoliata in the presence of A. magna. Current copro-diagnostic tests for Anoplocephala perfoliata show high variation in their sensitivity and given the morphological similarity of Anoplocephala spp. eggs, this could be related to the presence of Anoplocephala magna alone or co-existing with A. perfoliata. In the present study, coprology was significantly more sensitive (p<0.01) at detecting A. magna than A. perfoliata. This difference was independent of the parasite burden and was greater when testing was limited to horses with mature or gravid tapeworms. A. magna infection was strongly linked to young horses (≤ 2 years). The e...
Comparison of the sensitivity of coprological methods in detecting Anoplocephala perfoliata invasions. The autopsy of 487 slaughter horses revealed the presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata in 36 animals. The invasions varied in the intensity (3 to 2,069 tapeworms) and in the level of tapeworms' proglottid maturity. Twenty nine horses were found to contain tapeworms with gravid proglottid. Fecal samples collected from the rectum were tested using following techniques: flotation with solution-saturated NaCl, decantation, McMaster's, and modified sedimentation-flotation methods (50 g feces samples, flotation solution-saturated NaCl and sucrose, specific gravity 1.25 g/ml). The number of A. perfoli...