An introductory survey of helminth control practices in south africa and anthelmintic resistance on Thoroughbred stud farms in the Western Cape Province.
Abstract: Fifty-one per cent of 110 questionnaires, designed for obtaining information on helminth control practices and management on Thoroughbred stud farms in South Africa, were completed by farmers during 2000. The number of horses per farm included in the questionnaire survey ranged from 15 to 410. Foals, yearlings and adult horses were treated with anthelmintics at a mean of 7.3 +/- 3.0, 6.6 +/- 2.7 and 5.3 +/- 2.3 times per year, respectively. An average of 3.4 different drugs were used annually, with ivermectin being used bymost farmers during 1997-2000. On 43% of farms the weights of horses were estimated by weigh band and 45% of farmers estimated visually, while both were used on 7% of farms and scales on the remaining 5%. Doses were based on average group weight on 50% ofthe farms and on individual weights on 46%. Forty-three per cent of farmers performed faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT). Most farmers rotated horses between pastures and treated new horses at introduction. Faecal removal was practiced on 61% of farms and less than 50% of farmers used alternate grazing with ruminants. Faecal egg count reduction tests were done on 283 horses, using oxibendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin on 10,9 and 5 farms, respectively, in the Western Cape Province during 2001. While the efficacy of oxibendazole was estimated by FECRT to range from 0-88% and moxidectin from 99-100%, ivermectin resulted in a 100% reduction in egg counts. Only cyathostome larvae were recovered from post-treatment faecal cultures.
Publication Date: 2003-04-01 PubMed ID: 12665133DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v73i4.586Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Anthelmintic Resistance
- Anthelmintic Treatment
- Disease control
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Research
- Fecal Egg Count
- Horse Management
- Horse Owners
- Parasites
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
Summary
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The research undertaken sought to gather data on the practices used on Thoroughbred stud farms in South Africa for helminth control and the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance. The study featured surveys of such farms and evaluations of around three varieties of anthelmintic drugs, assessing their effectiveness and efficiency in reducing faecal egg counts in horses.
Survey Design and Participation
- Researchers prepared questionnaires to understand the helminth control practices and farm management strategies on Thoroughbred stud farms in South Africa.
- Of the 110 questionnaires dispatched, they received completed forms from around 51% of respondents.
- The farms had varying horse populations, ranging from as low as 15 to as high as 410.
Treatment Frequencies and Practices
- The treatment frequencies for foals, yearlings, and adult horses with anthelmintics were 7.3, 6.6, and 5.3 times per year respectively.
- An estimated 3.4 different anthelmintic drugs were used annually, the most common being Ivermectin between 1997 and 2000.
- Most farmers determined the weights of their horses through visual estimation or weigh bands. The conflicting methods were used together on 7% of the farms, while scales were employed in the remaining few.
- The anthelmintic doses were typically based on the average group weight or individual weights of the horses.
Management Practices
- About 43% of farmers performed faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT).
- Most farmers practiced pasture rotation and treated newly added horses.
- Faecal evacuation was practiced on 61% of farms but less than half of the farmers practiced alternate grazing with ruminants.
Anthelmintic Drug Efficacy
- FECRTs were conducted on 283 horses. These tests were done using oxibendazole, ivermectin, and moxidectin on 10, 9, and 5 farms, respectively, in the Western Cape Province in 2001.
- The efficacy of oxibendazole was variable, ranging from 0-88% in reducing faecal egg counts, whereas moxidectin showed 99-100% efficacy.
- Ivermectin appeared to be the most effective, resulting in a 100% reduction in egg counts.
- Only cyathostome larvae were recovered from post-treatment faecal cultures.
Cite This Article
APA
Matthee S, Dreyer FH, Hoffmann WA, van Niekerk FE.
(2003).
An introductory survey of helminth control practices in south africa and anthelmintic resistance on Thoroughbred stud farms in the Western Cape Province.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 73(4), 195-200.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v73i4.586 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Zoology, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602 South Africa. smatthee@sun.ac.za
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / pharmacology
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Drug Resistance
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Helminthiasis, Animal / drug therapy
- Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
- Helminthiasis, Animal / prevention & control
- Helminths / drug effects
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Male
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- South Africa / epidemiology
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Dauparaitė E, Kupčinskas T, Hoglund J, Petkevičius S. A Survey of Control Strategies for Equine Small Strongyles in Lithuania.. Helminthologia 2021 Sep;58(3):225-232.
- Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 11;11(1).
- Maestrini M, Molento MB, Mancini S, Martini M, Angeletti FGS, Perrucci S. Intestinal Strongyle Genera in Different Typology of Donkey Farms in Tuscany, Central Italy.. Vet Sci 2020 Dec 2;7(4).
- Kaspar A, Pfister K, Nielsen MK, Silaghi C, Fink H, Scheuerle MC. Detection of Strongylus vulgaris in equine faecal samples by real-time PCR and larval culture - method comparison and occurrence assessment.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jan 11;13(1):19.
- Grzybek M, Kukula-Koch W, Strachecka A, Jaworska A, Phiri AM, Paleolog J, Tomczuk K. Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity and Composition of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Extracts-In Vitro and in Vivo Studies.. Int J Mol Sci 2016 Sep 1;17(9).
- Schneider S, Pfister K, Becher AM, Scheuerle MC. Strongyle infections and parasitic control strategies in German horses - a risk assessment.. BMC Vet Res 2014 Nov 12;10:262.
- Nielsen MK. Restrictions of anthelmintic usage: perspectives and potential consequences.. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S7.
- von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Traversa D, Demeler J, Rohn K, Milillo P, Schurmann S, Lia R, Perrucci S, di Regalbono AF, Beraldo P, Barnes H, Cobb R, Boeckh A. Effects of worm control practices examined by a combined faecal egg count and questionnaire survey on horse farms in Germany, Italy and the UK.. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S3.
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