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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(10); doi: 10.3390/ani10101916

Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Colic and Non-Colic Control Equine Patients.

Abstract: All around the world, intestinal helminths constitute one of the most prevalent life-long occurring infections and re-infections affecting all horse age groups. A range of parasite species among strongyles, ascarids, and tapeworms is known to have the potential to cause colic in horses. However, there is a lack of current scientific evidence on the actual relevance of helminth infection levels in the context of colic in horses kept during prevailing epidemiological conditions. Thus, a prospective case-control study on the occurrence of intestinal helminths in a total of 620 mainly adult equine clinic patients was conducted to investigate the association between colic and helminth infection. For each horse, a range of copromicroscopic, serological, and clinical data was obtained, in addition to a questionnaire on relevant anamnestic data, including previous anthelmintic treatment and husbandry. Using a FLOTAC-based copromicroscopic diagnosis, the highest infection rates were seen for strongyles (41.8%), followed by Anoplocephala perfoliata and Parascaris spp. (both 0.8%), with no significant difference between the two study groups. Employing a real-time PCR a 1.1% S. vulgaris DNA prevalence was found. Considerably higher seroprevalences were observed using S. vulgaris and A. perfoliata ELISAs, with 32.3% and 10.7%, respectively. It was noteworthy that no association concerning either serologic status was encountered with colic status. The shedding of strongyle eggs was associated with a 1.8-times increased risk of S. vulgaris seropositivity. Recent anthelmintic treatment was associated with the onset of colic, as animals who had received an anthelmintic during the previous week had a 2.4-times higher risk of signs of colic compared to those who had been treated at least eight weeks prior. Another noteworthy observation was that ponies were significantly less often affected by colic than warmbloods. The high S. vulgaris and considerable A. perfoliata seroprevalences encountered in this investigation should prompt veterinarians, farm managers, and horse owners to maintain consequent and effective worm control measures.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-19 PubMed ID: 33086590PubMed Central: PMC7603170DOI: 10.3390/ani10101916Google 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 study investigates the link between intestinal helminth infections and colic health condition in horses, indicating that an increased risk of colic signs was found in those that recently received anthelmintic treatment.

Study Overview

  • The study explored the relationship between intestinal helminth infections and colic among mainly adult horses. A noteworthy medical problem worldwide, these helminth infections are widespread among horses of all age groups and have the potential to trigger colic. However, until this study, there was negligible scientific evidence connecting the levels of helminth infection with colic under prevalent epidemiological conditions.

Research Method

  • A case-control research methodology was used, involving a total of 620 equines. Various factors and criteria were considered, including serological, clinical and copromicroscopic data from each horse. Moreover, an additional questionnaire on horses’ previous treatment for helminth infection and their management was applied.
  • The study used a FLOTAC-based copromicroscopic diagnosis and a real-time PCR method.

Findings

  • Strongyles were found to be the most prevalent type of helminths, followed by other helminth species. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference between infection rates across these helminths.
  • It was also observed that recent anthelmintic treatment was linked to colic symptoms. Specifically, horses treated with an anthelmintic in the week prior were 2.4 times more likely to exhibit signs of colic compared to those treated at least eight weeks prior.
  • Ponies were less likely to experience colic than warmbloods.

Implications

  • Despite the lack of specific association between parasite serologic status and colic, the considerable seroprevalences prompted suggestions for increased focus on effective helminth control measures among veterinarians, farm managers, and horse owners.
  • The significant association between recent anthelmintic treatment and colic onset also implies a need to consider timing and frequency of such treatment application.

Cite This Article

APA
Gehlen H, Wulke N, Ertelt A, Nielsen MK, Morelli S, Traversa D, Merle R, Wilson D, Samson-Himmelstjerna GV. (2020). Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Colic and Non-Colic Control Equine Patients. Animals (Basel), 10(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101916

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 10

Researcher Affiliations

Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Klinik für Pferde, Allgemeine Chirurgie und Radiologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Wulke, Nadine
  • Klinik für Pferde, Allgemeine Chirurgie und Radiologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Ertelt, Antonia
  • Klinik für Pferde, Allgemeine Chirurgie und Radiologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Nielsen, Martin K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
Morelli, Simone
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Traversa, Donato
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Merle, Roswitha
  • Institut für Veterinär-Epidemiologie und Biometrie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Wilson, Douglas
  • Faculty of Health Sciences, Langford Campus, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg von
  • Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Wang T, Chen X, Yan X, Su Y, Gao W, Liu C, Wang W. Progress in serology and molecular biology of equine parasite diagnosis: sustainable control strategies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1663577.
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