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.
Selective therapy in equine parasite control–application and limitations. 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...
Systemic and mucosal IgE antibody responses of horses to infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata. Infection of horses with Anoplocephala perfoliata induces a severe inflammatory reaction of the caecal mucosa around the site of parasite attachment adjacent to the ileocecal valve. Lesions show epithelial erosion or ulceration of the mucosa with infiltration by eosinophils, lymphocytes and mast cells leading to oedema, gross thickening and fibrosis of the caecal wall. Despite this evidence of an inflammatory reaction to A. perfoliata within the mucosa of the caecum there is little information about the nature of the local immune response to A. perfoliata. An ELISA which assays serum IgG(T) an...
The association between Anoplocephala perfoliata and colic in Swedish horses–a case control study. 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 ...
Differential diagnosis of equine cestodosis based on E/S and somatic Anoplocephala perfoliata and Anoplocephala magna antigens. The tapeworm responsible for equine colic, Anoplocephala perfoliata, is considered the most common intestinal tapeworm of horses worldwide. However, there is evidence that Anoplocephala magna has a similar prevalence in North America and Spain, and possibly in other countries, highlighting the need for diagnostic methods capable of distinguishing between these two species. Currently, immunodiagnosis of A. perfoliata is based on the identification of the 12/13 kDa excretory/secretory (E/S) A. perfoliata immunoreactive antigen, which while apparently specific, has never been tested in sera from ...
Equine cestodosis: a sero-epidemiological study of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in Ethiopia. A 12/13 kDa antigen, tapeworm ELISA test, developed for use in horses, was used to detect parasite-specific serum antibody, IgG(T), in the serum of donkeys. In a pilot study the 12/13 kDa antigen was tested and proved to detect the antibody, IgG(T), in donkey sera. Blood samples from 797 donkeys, naturally exposed to cestode infection, from four geographical localities were collected and sera were prepared and analysed. There was substantial serological evidence that donkeys were potentially infected with A. perfoliata. A range of ELISA OD values were obtained from the serological assay. Over ...
Prevalence and intensity of gastro-intestinal helminths in horses in the Sudano-Guinean climatic zone of Cameroon. It is important to understand the biology and health impact of parasites affecting horses in the Western highlands of Cameroon. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of infection of gastrointestinal helminths in these animals. Methods: A total of 894 horses (367 males and 527 females), and aged ≤1 to ≥7 years old were examined. A parasitological investigation of faeces was carried out using two techniques: concentration method of Full Born Willis (flotation in saturated solution of sodium chloride) and Mc Master Technique. Conclusions: From the results the overall prevalence ...
Sustainable equine parasite control: perspectives and research needs. 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 ...
Does examination of fecal samples 24 hours after cestocide treatment increase the sensitivity of Anoplocephala spp. detection in naturally infected horses? Fecal samples were examined immediately before and 24 to 48 h after cestocide treatment for a comparative detection of tapeworm-positive horses. In early winter, 17 weanlings, 20 yearlings, 15 2-year-old horses, 24 breeding mares, and 2 stallions were treated with praziquantel in combination with a macrocyclic lactone. The horses were presumed to be naturally infected with tapeworms after pasture grazing. Fecal samples were collected before treatment (Day 0), at 24 or 48 h after treatment (Day 1-2), and 16 to 21 d after treatment (Day 16-21). A Wisconsin test was done on all fecal samples. Odd...
Prevalence of helminths in horses in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of helminths in the horse population of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. One hundred and twenty-six horse farms in the state were selected by randomised stratified sampling. In total, 1,407 horses across all farms were examined coproscopically. The experimental unit was the horse farm: a farm was considered infected when at least one horse on the farm investigated was positive for helminth eggs. Animal details such as age, breed and sex were collected for all study horses and analysed for risk of infection. Risk was defined as horses ...
Evaluation of a double centrifugation technique for the detection of Anoplocephala eggs in horse faeces. Faecal samples of 250 horses from farms with a known history of tapeworm infection were examined comparatively for cestode eggs using a double centrifugation/combined sedimentation-floatation technique. From each faecal sample, three 5 g and three 15 g subsamples were processed, each using either saturated NaCl solution, specific gravity (sp. g.) 1.2 [NaCl]; concentrated sugar solution, sp. g. 1.26 [sugar]; or concentrated ZnSO4 solution, sp. g. 1.3 [ZnSO4] for floatation. In total, faeces from 187 horses ( = 74.8%) tested 'positive' for Anoplocephala eggs. Percentages of samples testing '...
Pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the mucosa/submucosa and in the enteric nervous system of equine ileocecal junction. 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...
Pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the equine ileocecal junction. Gastrointestinal motility disorders represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Previously regarded as a non-pathogenic tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata has been recently associated with equine colic. In this study, pathological changes related to A. perfoliata at the ileocecal junction were investigated in 31 slaughtered horses. Our results showed a significant relationship between parasitic burden and grading of histopathological lesions in both the mucosa and submucosa. Moreover, in infested horses, hypertrophy of the circular muscle layer was determined. Finally, ...
Evaluation of diagnostic techniques for Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses from Alberta, Canada. Accurate diagnosis of parasites within individual hosts remains a difficult task. Incorrect and/or inaccurate diagnosis restricts the potential for targeted treatment of individuals and limits our understanding of key epidemiological characteristics of potential pathogens of domestic stock. In this study, we compared the specificity and sensitivity of four diagnostic methods for determination of the presence and intensity of the cestode Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses. Over 400 horses from an abattoir in south-central Alberta were evaluated for the presence and number of cestodes. Thirty on...
Increased IL-4 and decreased regulatory cytokine production following relocation of Icelandic horses from a high to low endoparasite environment. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides spp. IBH does not occur in Iceland where Culicoides are absent. However, following importation into continental Europe where Culicoides are present, >or=50% of Icelandic horses (1st generation) develop IBH but
Parasitism and colic. 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...
Evaluation of marked rise in fecal egg output after bithionol administration to horse and its application as a diagnostic marker for equine Anoplocephala perfoliata infection. To establish a reliable diagnostic measure for equine Anoplocephala perfoliata infection, the impact of deworming was examined in 12 Thoroughbreds to which bithionol (5-10 mg/kg body weight) was administered and feces were examined by the modified Wisconsin method using sucrose solution. One day after the administration, cestode eggs were detected in previously fecal egg-negative 3 horses and increased in the other 9 horses. The optimum time for post-deworming egg detection was examined in following horses: 17 mares were administered bithionol and 10 mares were used as controls. The fecal egg ...
[Quantitative prevalence of Anoplocephala sp. and egg shedding consistency in horses]. The objective of this work was to determine the quantitative prevalence of Anoplocephala sp. in thoroughbred horses raised in São José dos Pinhais, PR using the modified centrifugal-flotation technique. Repeatability values for the eggs per gram (EPG) were evaluated at 28-day intervals. The coproparasitological tests were made in 28 one-year old animals, 25 two-year old animals and 28 mares during the 2007 period of January 31st and June 15th. In the comparison of EPG, all mares presented low values than the foals (P = 0.04). The prevalence results indicated 50, 18 and 40% Anoplocephala sp. ...
Occurrence of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in horses in Ontario, Canada and associations with colic and management practices. 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...
Serological changes observed in horses infected with Anoplocephala perfoliata after treatment with praziquantel and natural reinfection. The serological changes in two groups of horses known to be harbouring Anoplocephala perfoliata were studied; 12 were treated with 1.5 mg/kg praziquantel and 200 microg/kg ivermectin, and 14 were treated with 200 microg/kg ivermectin. Serological and faecal analyses were carried out on each animal at intervals for 758 days. The titres of antibodies specific for A perfoliata decreased from the day of treatment to day 28 in both groups, and continued to decrease in the group treated with praziquantel and ivermectin, with the first significant decrease from the other group at day 121. From day 15...
A comparison of coprological, serological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of horse infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea). 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...
Interpretation of serum antibody response to Anoplocephala perfoliata in relation to parasite burden and faecal egg count. 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...
Correlation between colic and antibody levels against Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses in The Netherlands. The importance of Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses with colic was studied in 139 horses referred for colic and 139 control horses with no signs of colic for at least three years. The serodiagnostic method of Proudman and Trees, which measures the level of A. perfoliata antibody, was used to detect A. perfoliata infection. Thirty-two horses were examined at necropsy, to determine whether the presence of A. perfoliata in the ileocaecal region was associated with the A. perfoliata antibody level. The mean A. perfoliata antibody level was significantly higher in horses with colic than in horses ...
Clinical trials of efficacy of praziquantel horse paste 9% against tapeworms and its safety in horses. The aim of this study with horses and a few ponies naturally infected with tapeworms was to confirm in clinical trials the efficacy and safety of a praziquantel horse paste 9%. The field trials were conducted in 1997 and 1998 in Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand. A secondary aim of the study in Canada was to determine if a 24h post-treatment fecal sample provides the best estimate of the prevalence of tapeworms in horses when using a fecal examination technique. Fecal samples were taken from each of 1062 animals at least three times pre-treatment (PRT). In Canada, fecal samples were exam...
A study on the seasonal epidemiology of Anoplocephala spp.-infection in horses and the appropriate treatment using a praziquantel gel (Droncit 9% oral gel). In a study on the seasonal dynamics of the gastro-intestinal nematode egg production in horses, one breeding farm also revealed a particularly high prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. infection. Consequently, this farm was chosen for analysing the seasonal pattern of the tapeworm egg excretion over a one year period in order to establish the most favourable periods for an appropriate and successful cestocidal treatment. The seasonal analysis showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) Anoplocephala spp. egg excretion between July and October, i.e. during the second part of the grazing period. This r...
[Influence of animal breeding manner on the occurence of internal parasites]. On the turn of July and August the prevalence and intensity of internal parasites of cattle, deer, and primitive Polish horses were estimated. It was determined, that all groups of animals were infected with parasites. The prevalence and intensity of infection were diversified and depended on the animal species, breed, age, and even sex. For instance, dairy cows of lowland black-and-white breed were six times stronger infected than Polish red breed, despite using the same pasture and the same cowshed. Nematodes and coccidia were present in calves using small, frequently wet, calf-runs and at h...
Gastrointestinal parasitic worms in equines in the Paraíba Valley, State of São Paulo, Brazil. 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...
Target animal safety and tolerance study of pyrantel pamoate paste (19.13% w/w pyrantel base) administered orally to horses. Pyrantel pamoate paste (19.13% w/w pyrantel base) for the treatment of tapeworm, Anoplocephala spp was evaluated for target animal safety and tolerance in horses treated orally at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 times the clinical dose of 13.2 mg pyrantel base/kg body weight administered daily for six consecutive days. Parameters evaluated included clinical signs, food and water consumption, body weights, physical examinations, clinical pathology (hematology, coagulation, serum chemistry, urinalyses, and fecal examinations), complete necropsy, organ weights, and histopathology. No adverse events or test ar...
Dose-confirmation studies of the cestocidal activity of pyrantel pamoate paste in horses. Dose confirmation studies of the cestocidal activity of pyrantel pamoate paste were conducted at two sites in North America during 2001. Horses with naturally-acquired cestode infections were identified by detection of typical Anoplocephala spp. eggs in feces collected between 7 and 92 days prior to treatment. Twenty and 22 horses were enrolled at Site 1 (Urbana, IL) and Site 2 (Knoxville, TN), respectively. Candidate horses were acclimated to study conditions for 14 days, ranked by length of interval since coprologic confirmation, and allocated randomly to one of two treatment groups: (T1) py...