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.
Salim AA, Butler MS, Blaskovich MAT, Henderson IR, Capon RJ.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...
Abbas G, Stevenson MA, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Jacobson C, El-Hage C, Wilkes EJA, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Hurley J, Beveridge I, Nielsen MK, Hughes KJ....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...
Osterman-Lind E, Holmberg M, Grandi G.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 ...
Nielsen MK.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...
Marchenko VA, Khalikov SS, Biryukov IV, Efremova EA, Ilyin MM, Sazmand A.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...
Slater R, Frau A, Hodgkinson J, Archer D, Probert C.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...
Bartosik J, Łojek J, Długosz E, Górski P, Zygner W.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...
Tomczuk K, Hirzmann J, Köhler K, Szczepaniak K, Studzinska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M, Bauer C.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...
Gehlen H, Wulke N, Ertelt A, Nielsen MK, Morelli S, Traversa D, Merle R, Wilson D, Samson-Himmelstjerna GV.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...
Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Austin CJ, Lightbody KL, Bousquet E, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.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...
Jenkins E, Backwell AL, Bellaw J, Colpitts J, Liboiron A, McRuer D, Medill S, Parker S, Shury T, Smith M, Tschritter C, Wagner B, Poissant J....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...
Sallé G, Guillot J, Tapprest J, Foucher N, Sevin C, Laugier C.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...
Tydén E, Jansson A, Ringmark S.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 ...
Lawson AL, Pittaway CE, Sparrow RM, Balkwill EC, Coles GC, Tilley A, Wilson AD.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...
Hreinsdóttir I, Hreinsdóttir A, Eydal M, Tysnes KR, Robertson LJ.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...
Norris JK, Steuer AE, Gravatte HS, Slusarewicz P, Bellaw JL, Scare JA, Nielsen MK.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...
Lyons ET, Bolin DC, Bryant UK, Cassone LM, Jackson CB, Janes JG, Kennedy LA, Loynachan AT, Boll KR, Burkhardt AS, Langlois EL, Minnis SM, Welsh SC....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)...
Engell-Sørensen K, Pall A, Damgaard C, Holmstrup M.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...
Lightbody KL, Matthews JB, Kemp-Symonds JG, Lambert PA, Austin CJ.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...
Roncoron C, Fagiolo A, Amoruso C, De Liberato C.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 ...
Lyons ET, Bellaw JL, Dorton AR, Tolliver SC.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...
Lightbody KL, Davis PJ, Austin CJ.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...
Salem SE, Scantlebury CE, Ezzat E, Abdelaal AM, Archer DC.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...
Sakhaee E, Golchin M, Amiri H, Fayed MR, Eydi J.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...
Mansur F, Luoga W, Buttle DJ, Duce IR, Lowe AE, Behnke JM.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...
Tomczuk K, Kostro K, Grzybek M, Szczepaniak K, Studzińska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M.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...
Teixeira WF, Felippelli G, Cruz BC, Maciel WG, Fávero FC, Gomes LV, Buzzulini C, Prando L, Bichuette MA, Lopes WD, Oliveira GP, Costa AJ.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...
Bohórquez GA, Luzón M, Martín-Hernández R, Meana A.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...
Bohórquez A, Meana A, Pato NF, Luzón M.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...
Tomczuk K, Kostro K, Szczepaniak KO, Grzybek M, Studzińska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M.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...
Reinemeyer CR, Nielsen MK.Equids are hosts to dozens of species of internal parasites that infect no other domestic animals. Virtually all horses, especially those exposed to pasture, experience some level of parasitism continuously. Despite pathologic evidence of parasitic damage in various organs and tissues, few parasitisms are manifested systemically in well-managed horses. Contrary to conventional wisdom, only three common parasitisms of horses are likely to be manifested as colic: Strongylus vulgaris, Parascaris equorum, and Anoplocephala perfoliata. This article discusses the life cycles, pathophysiology, manife...
Proudman CJ, Edwards GB.A centrifugation/flotation technique for the identification of equine tapeworm eggs is described. It was validated by using faeces samples from 80 horses of known tapeworm status, and had a sensitivity of 61 per cent and a specificity of 98 per cent. The exclusion of false negative results in animals with less than 20 tapeworms increased the sensitivity to 92 per cent. No significant correlation was found between the number of eggs observed and the number of tapeworms present in the horses.
Sallé G, Guillot J, Tapprest J, Foucher N, Sevin C, Laugier C.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...
Nielsen MK.Clinically important equine parasites are ubiquitous in managed horse populations. The traditional approach to parasite control is frequent administration of anthelmintics to all horses on a farm. However, increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance is forcing horse owners and veterinarians to shift this control paradigm. Treatment regimens involving routine deworming of all horses throughout the year are now being replaced by more sustainable approaches, which take in to account the importance of maintaining adequate parasite refugia. The selective therapy principle has been recommended for ...
Nielsen MK, Pfister K, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.Since the 1960s equine parasite control has relied heavily on frequent anthelmintic treatments often applied with frequent intervals year-round. However, increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins and Parascaris equorum are now forcing the equine industry to change to a more surveillance-based treatment approach to facilitate a reduction in treatment intensity. The principle of selective therapy has been implemented with success in small ruminant parasite control, and has also found use in horse populations. Typically, egg counts are performed from all individuals in the pop...
Lightbody KL, Davis PJ, Austin CJ.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...
Pereira JR, Vianna SS.Over a period of 12 years, from 1988 to 2000, a total of 20 individual equines (16 horses and 4 mules) were selected at random, from 10 municipalities in the Paraíba Valley, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and then subjected to necropsy for collection of gastrointestinal worms. Individual samples of 10% of the intestinal contents were also taken for counting and identifying the species present, and to establish the prevalence of worms in equine species in the Paraíba Valley. In the sample considered, the presence of parasites ranged from 155 to 1249 worms. Tapeworms (Cestoidea) were pres...
Back H, Nyman A, Osterman Lind E.A case-control study was performed to investigate the association between colic of all types in Swedish horses and infection with the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata. Colic cases were defined by clinical signs consistent with the presence of abdominal pain, and the control horses had no signs of colic within the last year but attended a clinic for other reasons. Blood and fecal samples were collected by veterinarian from 67 horses with signs of colic and 67 control horses. The sera were analyzed using serodiagnostic assay anti-12/13 kDa IgG(T) ELISA. The fecal samples, 30 g from each ...
Meana A, Luzon M, Corchero J, Gómez-Bautista M.Three coprological methods were tested to establish the reliability of in vivo diagnosis of Anoplocephala perfoliata. A total of 107 faecal samples were analyzed, and the presence of tapeworms were confirmed postmortem in 24 animals with burdens that ranged from 1 to 248 worms; most of them (71%) with less than 100 parasites. Best results were obtained with a combination of two sedimentation/flotation methods, detecting only half the parasitized animals (54% sensitivity). No relationship could be established between tapeworm burden and egg detection, but results indicate that coprological meth...
Tolliver SC, Lyons ET, Drudge JH.The prevalence and number of naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasites were compiled for horses used in critical tests of activity of parasiticides over a 28-year period (1956-1983). Data are presented as follows: n = number of horses examined; % = mean prevalence; number in parentheses after % = aggregate mean number of parasites in infected horses. Parasites found were: bots (n = 513) - Gasterophilus intestinalis, 2nd instar, 61%(58); 3rd instar, 94%(168); G. nasalis, 2nd instar, 36%(28); 3rd instar, 81%(51); stomach worms (n = 200) - Habronema muscae, 65%(179); Draschia megastoma, 29%(9...
Proudman CJ, Trees AJ.There is increasing interest in the application of serological methods to macro-parasite infections to indicate infection intensity, which in turn is related to pathogenicity. Colic is the single most important cause of mortality in horses and there is evidence that a proportion of colic cases are associated with infection with the intestinal cestode Anoplocephala perfoliata. In order to develop better tools to investigate this association, the correlation between antigen-specific equine IgG and IgG(T) and infection intensity of A. perfoliata was investigated. Affinity purification of a 12/13 ...
Nilsson O, Ljungström BL, Höglund J, Lundquist H, Uggla A.Distal ileum, caecum and proximal colon of 470 horses were examined for helminths during 1 year at an abattoir in central Sweden. The infection levels of the horse tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata, their stage of development, site of attachment and gross pathological lesions caused by the worm were recorded. Faecal samples from 395 of the horses were examined specifically for tapeworm segments and eggs in order to correlate these findings with the numbers in the alimentary canal. In total 65% of the horses were infected with A. perfoliata and the mean intensity of infection was 79 worms per i...
Nielsen MK.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...
Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Austin CJ, Lightbody KL, Bousquet E, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.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...
Höglund J, Ljungström BL, Nilsson O, Uggla A.A scolex antigen of the horse tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata containing at least 14 different proteins was employed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies to A. perfoliata in equine sera. The assay was applied to sera from 426 slaughtered horses with different numbers of worms and with varying degrees of intestinal lesions. As measured by the ELISA, there was a very strong effect on the antibody levels both from the number of tapeworms present and from the intestinal lesion score. However, considerable individual variation was observed between horses wit...
Trotz-Williams L, Physick-Sheard P, McFarlane H, Pearl DL, Martin SW, Peregrine AS.Infection with the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata has been found to be associated with equine colic in horses in the United Kingdom. Using a matched case-control study design, data collected from 117 pairs of horses in Ontario were examined for evidence of associations between risk of colic and A. perfoliata infection, and between seropositivity to infection and management practices. Cases were horses in southern Ontario diagnosed with colic by local veterinarians, and control horses were from the same stables as cases and were matched by age, breed and gender where possible. Infection stat...
Traversa D, Fichi G, Campigli M, Rondolotti A, Iorio R, Proudman CJ, Pellegrini D, Perrucci S.Anoplocephala perfoliata (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea), the commonest intestinal tapeworm of horses, can cause colic, intussusceptions, ileal impactions and intestinal perforations. Common diagnostic techniques for A. perfoliata infection, i.e. coprology and serology, show inherent limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and new approaches are thus required. Hence, the present study compared the reliability of coprological, serological (i.e. ELISA) and molecular (i.e. nested PCR) methods in detecting A. perfoliata infection in naturally infected horses and in horses treated with a comb...
Proudman CJ, Edwards GB.Faeces samples from 116 horses with colic and 115 non-colic cases were assayed by a centrifugation/floatation method for the presence of tapeworm eggs. Analysis of these data failed to demonstrate an association between tapeworm infection and colic of all types. The data were further analysed according to anatomical site of the lesion causing colic. The risk of ileocaecal colic was increased in the presence of tapeworms. Age, breed and sex were evaluated as possible confounding factors but had no association with the incidence of colic. This study suggests an association between tapeworms and ...
Little D, Blikslager AT.Deal impaction is prevalent in the south-eastern USA, where feeding of Coastal Bermuda hay has been implicated as a risk factor. Alternatively, infection with the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata has been identified as a risk factor for ileal impaction in the UK. We hypothesised that feeding Coastal Bermuda hay and failure to administer routinely an anthelmintic with efficacy against tapeworms would place horses at risk of developing ileal impaction in the USA. Seventy-eight horses, with surgically confirmed ileal impaction and 100 horses admitted for colic that did not have an ileal impactio...
Pavone S, Veronesi F, Genchi C, Fioretti DP, Brianti E, Mandara MT.In this study, pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the ileocecal junction were investigated in 31 regularly slaughtered mixed-breed horses of both sexes. Our results showed a significant relationship between parasite burden and grading of histopathological lesions in the mucosa and submucosa. Hypertrophy of the circular muscle layer was found in infected horses. Moreover, enteric nervous system evaluation showed a significant injury of intestinal nervous elements in the horses with moderate to high parasitism expressed as an increase of degenerative-regressive changes in...
Proudman CJ, Trees AJ.Until recently, the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata was difficult to diagnose and considered to be of questionable pathogenicity. Here, Chris Proudman and Sandy Trees describe recent advances in the immunodiagnosis of this parasite that have facilitated epidemiological studies. These studies suggest that A. perfoliata may be an important cause of intestinal disease in the horse and demonstrate a dose-response relationship between infection intensity and risk of disease. If tapeworm infection is a risk factor for ileocaecal colic, the identification and treatment of infected individual...
Fogarty U, del Piero F, Purnell RE, Mosurski KR.The intestinal tracts of 363 horses were examined after slaughter at a horse abattoir. The presence or absence of Anoplocephala perfoliata and the sites of attachment were recorded. A total of 51 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached to the mucosa of the ileocaecal junction and/or to the caecal mucosa; 5 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached only to the mucosa of the ileocaecal junction, 24 per cent had A perfoliata attached only to the caecal mucosa and 22 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached at both sites. The degree of infestation did not appear to be influ...
Kjaer LN, Lungholt MM, Nielsen MK, Olsen SN, Maddox-Hyttel C.Increased knowledge is needed to assist in the interpretation of presently available diagnostic techniques for infection by the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses. Objective: The suggested cut-off level of an A. perfoliata specific ELISA may not adequately reflect the actual infection level. Hence, faecal egg counts may be a more useful diagnostic test for individual horses than previously reported. Methods: Eighty-four horses admitted for slaughter at a Danish abattoir were examined for the presence of A. perfoliata. The number of tapeworms, their stage of development and gross patho...
Williamson RM, Gasser RB, Middleton D, Beveridge I.The intestinal tracts of 130 horses were examined for infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata at necropsy. Fifty horses (38.5%) harboured the tapeworm, and the site of attachment of each worm was recorded using predetermined anatomical landmarks. The worms were attached in four regions of the gastrointestinal tract: 17% of the worms were found at the ileocaecal junction, 81% on the caecal wall, 1.7% in the terminal ileum and 0.2% in the ventral colon. The severity of lesions produced at the sites of attachment was related to the number of worms attached. Due to the small area of the ileocaecal...
Tydén E, Jansson A, Ringmark S.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 ...
Salem SE, Scantlebury CE, Ezzat E, Abdelaal AM, Archer DC.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...
Lightbody KL, Matthews JB, Kemp-Symonds JG, Lambert PA, Austin CJ.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...
Kania SA, Reinemeyer CR.Anoplocephala perfoliata has a prevalence as high as 60% in some geographical areas and has been associated with increased risk for serious conditions in the horse including bowel irritation, ileal impaction, and spasmodic colic. Identification of infected animals based upon detection of eggs in feces is labor intensive and unreliable. This study involved the development of a test for A.perfoliata coproantigen using an antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and correctly distinguished between infected and uninfected animals in a trial with a small sample size.
Owen RA, Jagger DW, Quan-Taylor R.A caecocaecal intussusception in a pony and a caecocolic intussusception in a horse, both infected with Anoplocephala perfoliata, are described and the relevance of tapeworms in such intestinal disease of horses is reviewed.
