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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / Climatic influences on development and survival of free-livi...
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2006; 174(1); 23-32; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.05.009

Climatic influences on development and survival of free-living stages of equine strongyles: implications for worm control strategies and managing anthelmintic resistance.

Abstract: Development of resistance to anthelmintic drugs by horse strongyles constitutes a growing threat to equine health because it is unknown when new drug classes can be expected on the market. Consequently, parasite control strategies should attempt to maintain drug efficacy for as long as possible. The proportion of a parasite population that is not exposed to anthelmintic treatment is described as being "in refugia" and although many factors affect the rate at which resistance develops, levels of refugia are considered the most important as these parasites are not selected by treatment and so provide a pool of sensitive genes in the population. Accordingly, treatment should be avoided when pasture refugia are small because such treatments will place significant selection pressure for resistance on worm populations. Given this new paradigm for parasite control, it has become important to identify seasons and circumstances wherein refugia are diminished. Free-living stages of equine strongyles are highly dependent on climatic influences, and this review summarises studies of strongyle development and survival under laboratory and field conditions in Northern (cool) temperate, Southern (warm) temperate and subtropical/tropical climates. In Northern temperate climates, refugia are smallest during the winter. In contrast, refugia are lowest during the summer in warm temperate and subtropical/tropical climates. Although adverse seasonal changes clearly have significant effects on the ability of free living stages of strongyle nematode parasites to survive and develop, available data suggest that climatic influences cannot effectively "clean" pastures from one grazing season to the next.
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Publication Date: 2006-07-11 PubMed ID: 16815051DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.05.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Review

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 study examines how climate impact affects the development and survival of free-living stages of horse strongyles, a type of parasite, with a focus on implications for controlling these worms and managing resistance to drugs.

Background

  • The research addresses the growing issue of horse strongyles developing resistance to anthelmintic drugs, a concern for equine health. As new drug classes are unpredictable, control strategies must aim to maintain drug efficacy over longer periods.
  • The ‘refugia’ concept is key; it refers to the portion of the parasite population not exposed to treatment. This refugia population does not undergo selective pressure from treatments and constitutes a source of sensitive genes keeping the overall population sensitive to drugs.

The Impact of Climatic Influences

  • The study’s focus is determining the seasons and situations where the refugia are smallest due to the fact that treatments during these periods put a significant selection pressure for resistance on worm populations.
  • Free-living stages of equine strongyles rely heavily on climate, thus the study scrutinizes the trends of strongyle development and survival under different climate conditions – Northern cool temperate, Southern warm temperate, and subtropical/tropical climates.

Findings

  • A key finding is that in Northern temperate climates, refugia are smallest during winter, while in Southern temperate and subtropical/tropical climates, refugia are smallest during summer.
  • In spite of clear effects of adverse seasons on the survival and development of free-living stages of strongyle parasites, the research suggests that climatic influences cannot wholly ‘purify’ pastures from one grazing season to the next.

Cite This Article

APA
Nielsen MK, Kaplan RM, Thamsborg SM, Monrad J, Olsen SN. (2006). Climatic influences on development and survival of free-living stages of equine strongyles: implications for worm control strategies and managing anthelmintic resistance. Vet J, 174(1), 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.05.009

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 174
Issue: 1
Pages: 23-32

Researcher Affiliations

Nielsen, Martin K
  • Department of Large Animal Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 48 Dyrlaegevej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C., Denmark. mkn@kvl.dk
Kaplan, Ray M
    Thamsborg, Stig M
      Monrad, Jesper
        Olsen, Susanne N

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
          • Climate
          • Drug Resistance
          • Horses
          • Seasons
          • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
          • Strongyle Infections, Equine / parasitology
          • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control
          • Strongylus / growth & development

          Citations

          This article has been cited 34 times.
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