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Parasite epidemiology and control2016; 1(2); 15-19; doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2016.01.001

Anthelmintics efficacy against intestinal strongyles in horses of Sardinia, Italy.

Abstract: Intestinal strongyles (IS) are the most important parasites of equids, due to their high prevalence worldwide, pathogenicity and the spread of drug-resistant populations. Despite the large number of horses bred in Sardinia Island, Italy, no data are available on the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds in the control of horse strongylosis. Therefore the aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of five commercial anthelmintic formulations containing fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel (PYR), moxidectin (MOX) and two ivermectin formulations (IVM1 and IVM2) against IS in Sardinia by performing a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and investigating the egg reappearance period (ERP) after treatment. In total, 74 horses from 7 farms were examined. Coprocultures performed for individual fecal samples collected at the day of the treatment revealed that cyathostomins were the predominant parasitic species (98.6%). The FECR for all horses belonging to the treatment groups after two weeks was ≥ 95% with a 95% C.I. > 90%. The expected ERP did not decrease in any of the treatment group as FECR values  90% for the entire duration of the trial until D150. The results of the present survey indicate that drug-resistant cyathostomin populations are not present in the examined horse population, contrariwise to what observed in other Italian and European regions. The reasons and implications of these results are discussed.
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Publication Date: 2016-03-08 PubMed ID: 29988184PubMed Central: PMC5991823DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2016.01.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research article studies the effectiveness of five different anti-parasitic drugs on intestinal strongyles (a type of parasitic worm) in horses on the island of Sardinia, Italy. Through fecal examination, the researchers determined the presence and amount of worm infection, and evaluated the duration of each drug’s effectiveness.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • The research aimed to assess the effectiveness of five commercial anti-parasitic drugs (fenbendazole, pyrantel, moxidectin, and two formulations of ivermectin) against intestinal strongyles in horses. Intestinal strongyles are a type of worm and a major concern for equines due to their wide prevalence and the increasing instances of drug-resistant strains.
  • The study also sought to investigate the egg reappearance period (ERP), the interval after drug administration before eggs can be detected in the feces again, indicating a continuing or reintroduced parasitic infection.
  • To achieve these objectives, the researchers performed a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) at different time points after treatment. The study involved 74 horses from 7 different farms in Sardinia, Italy.

Main Findings

  • The predominant parasitic species found in the sample horses was cyathostomins, accounting for about 98.6% of the parasites detected.
  • All drug treatments led to a powerful response, reducing the fecal egg count by at least 95% after just two weeks, and indicating an effective immediate response against the parasites.
  • The research also found differences in the egg reappearance period (ERP) between the drugs tested. For fenbendazole, eggs reappeared in the feces at day 60 after treatment. For pyrantel and one formulation of ivermectin (IVM1), eggs reappeared at day 90, and for the second ivermectin formulation (IVM2), at day 150. For moxidectin, the fecal egg count remained reduced by at least 90% until day 150, suggesting it had the most extended efficacy.

Implications and Significance

  • The research indicates that in the studied horse population on Sardinia, there is not yet a significant problem with drug-resistant cyathostomin parasite populations. This differs from the situation reported in other Italian and European regions, suggesting regional or management factors impacting drug resistance rates.
  • The results can be used by equine health professionals in Sardinia to guide selection of parasite treatment strategies, contributing to maintaining drug efficacy and slowing the development of resistant parasites.
  • The variability seen in drug effectiveness could befall due to several factors, including differences in parasitic life cycles, drug pharmacokinetics, or exposure to environmental contamination. Understanding and optimizing these factors can aid in designing targeted and effective parasite control programs for horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Sanna G, Pipia AP, Tamponi C, Manca R, Varcasia A, Traversa D, Scala A. (2016). Anthelmintics efficacy against intestinal strongyles in horses of Sardinia, Italy. Parasite Epidemiol Control, 1(2), 15-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2016.01.001

Publication

Parasite epidemiology and control
ISSN: 2405-6731
NlmUniqueID: 101687137
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 1
Issue: 2
Pages: 15-19

Researcher Affiliations

Sanna, G
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Settore di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Pipia, A P
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Settore di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Tamponi, C
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Settore di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Manca, R
  • Veterinary practitioner, Sassari, Italy.
Varcasia, A
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Settore di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Traversa, D
  • Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Piazza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Scala, A
  • Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Settore di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Macdonald SL, Abbas G, Ghafar A, Gauci CG, Bauquier J, El-Hage C, Tennent-Brown B, Wilkes EJA, Beasley A, Jacobson C, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Hurley J, Beveridge I, Hughes KJ, Nielsen MK, Jabbar A. Egg reappearance periods of anthelmintics against equine cyathostomins: The state of play revisited. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023 Apr;21:28-39.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.12.002pubmed: 36543048google scholar: lookup
  2. Scala A, Tamponi C, Sanna G, Predieri G, Dessì G, Sedda G, Buono F, Cappai MG, Veneziano V, Varcasia A. Gastrointestinal Strongyles Egg Excretion in Relation to Age, Gender, and Management of Horses in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 3;10(12).
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  3. Nielsen MK. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes: Current status and emerging trends. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022 Dec;20:76-88.
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