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Veterinary record open2015; 2(2); e000104; doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000104

A survey on parasite management by equine veterinarians highlights the need for a regulation change.

Abstract: In-depth knowledge of the use of anthelminthics in the field, especially by veterinarians, is required to design more sustainable parasite control strategies. Methods: An online survey was sent by e-mail to 940 equine veterinary practitioners to describe their equine practice, their awareness about parasites and the management strategies they apply. Results: Gastrointestinal parasites were generally considered (68%) as an issue of moderate importance. Drug efficacy failure was a minor or moderate issue for 47% and 48% of responders, respectively. Parasite management mostly relied on the use of systematic calendar treatments across a wide variety of horse owners (ie, riding schools, studs or hobby horse owners). Almost half of the practitioners (42%) never performed Faecal Egg Count (FEC) before drenching. Horse owners or their employees in charge of equines were reported to be the only person managing drenching in 59% of the collected answers. This was associated with the report of many off-label uses of anthelmintics and the frequent buying of drugs using the internet. Conclusions: Given the critical situation regarding anthelmintic resistance, it seems necessary for veterinarians to reclaim parasite management and prevention as a specific topic. Implementation of stricter regulations for use of anthelmintics, like the one applied in Denmark, may make parasitic management in equids more sustainable.
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Publication Date: 2015-09-14 PubMed ID: 26421153PubMed Central: PMC4581345DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000104Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is a survey on current practices of equine veterinarians in managing parasites in horses. It found that there is a significant need for more sustainable practices and stricter regulations as a lot of off-label drug use and a lack of vital testing were reported.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers distributed an online survey to 940 equine veterinary practitioners via email. The aim of the survey was to gather data on their equine practice, their knowledge and awareness about parasites and parasite management strategies they apply in their practice.

Research Findings

  • Around 68% of the veterinarians considered gastrointestinal parasites as a moderate issue. For 47% and 48% of the respondents, drug efficacy failure was seen as a minor or moderate issue, respectively.
  • Most of the veterinarians depended on systematic calendar treatments for managing parasites across various types of horse owners such as riding schools, studs or hobby horse owners.
  • Surprisingly, about 42% of the veterinarians never performed Faecal Egg Count (FEC) before administering deworming drugs. This test is important because it helps in identifying the type and amount of parasites present in the horse’s system.
  • In more than half of the responses collected, horse owners or their employees were the only ones managing the deworming process. This was associated with many instances of off-label uses of anthelmintics and frequent purchase of drugs over the internet.

Conclusion and Suggestions

  • Considering the rising issue of anthelmintic resistance, it is crucial for veterinarians to take a proactive role in managing parasites. They need to provide guidance on prevention strategies and correct application of treatment.
  • The researchers suggest implementing stricter regulations for the use of anthelmintics, like in Denmark, to make parasitic management in horses more sustainable. This could reduce the risk of misuse and overuse of anthelmintics, thus preventing the emergence of drug-resistant parasite strains.

Cite This Article

APA
Sallé G, Cabaret J. (2015). A survey on parasite management by equine veterinarians highlights the need for a regulation change. Vet Rec Open, 2(2), e000104. https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2014-000104

Publication

Veterinary record open
ISSN: 2052-6113
NlmUniqueID: 101653671
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: e000104

Researcher Affiliations

Sallé, Guillaume
  • INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique , Nouzilly , France ; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique , Tours , France.
Cabaret, Jacques
  • INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique , Nouzilly , France ; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique , Tours , France.

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