Comparison of the reappearance of strongyle eggs on foals, yearlings and adult horses after treatment with ivermectin or pyrantel.
Abstract: The reappearance of strongyle eggs in faeces after treatment with ivermectin or pyrantel embonate was investigated in 22 foals, 36 yearlings, and 45 adult horses on five Dutch horse farms. The results confirmed earlier studies which showed an egg reappearance period of 9 and 6 weeks after ivermectin and pyrantel treatment, respectively. There were no differences between the egg reappearance periods of foals, yearlings, and adult horses. The mean egg counts of the yearlings were, however, consistently higher than the mean egg counts of the adult horses and foals in both ivermectin- and pyrantel-treated animals. It is concluded that shorter treatment intervals in foals and yearlings are not obligatory. However, longer intervals must be prevented in yearlings because their contribution to pasture contamination is relatively high.
Publication Date: 1996-03-01 PubMed ID: 8833604DOI: 10.1080/01652176.1996.9694602Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This study observes the return of strongyle eggs in horse feces after treatment with either ivermectin or pyrantel embonate. No differences were found in the period of egg reappearance among foals, yearlings, and adult horses. Yet, yearlings had higher mean egg counts, implying they contribute more to the contamination of pastures.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The primary aim of the research was to understand the pattern of strongyle egg reappearance in horses of different ages – foals, yearlings, and adults, post-treatment with two commonly used drugs – ivermectin and pyrantel embonate.
- The study involved 22 foals, 36 yearlings, and 45 adult horses across five horse farms in the Netherlands.
Findings
- The study reinforced previous results that the period for strongyle egg reappearance after drug treatment is approximately nine weeks for ivermectin and six weeks for pyrantel embonate.
- No significant differences were detected in the egg reappearance periods for foals, yearlings, or adult horses following treatment with either of the two drugs.
- Even though the egg reappearance period remained homogeneous across the age groups, a striking difference was observed in the mean egg counts. The yearling horses had higher mean egg counts, meaning they are more prone to strongyle infection, leading to a greater potential of contaminating pastures.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- Given the similarity in egg reappearance periods, the study suggests that shorter treatment intervals are not necessary for foals and yearlings compared to adults.
- However, it emphasizes the necessity to prevent longer treatment intervals for yearlings due to their relatively higher contributions to pasture contamination.
- These findings highlight the importance of targeted deworming strategies, taking into account both the age of the horse and the specific medication being used to control strongyle infections effectively.
Cite This Article
APA
Boersema JH, Eysker M, Maas J, van der Aar WM.
(1996).
Comparison of the reappearance of strongyle eggs on foals, yearlings and adult horses after treatment with ivermectin or pyrantel.
Vet Q, 18(1), 7-9.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1996.9694602 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Utrech University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Antinematodal Agents / therapeutic use
- Feces / parasitology
- Horses
- Ivermectin / therapeutic use
- Netherlands / epidemiology
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Pyrantel / therapeutic use
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
- Strongylus / isolation & purification
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Bull KE, Allen KJ, Hodgkinson JE, Peachey LE. The first report of macrocyclic lactone resistant cyathostomins in the UK. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023 Apr;21:125-130.
- 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.
- Johnson ACB, Biddle AS. The Use of Molecular Profiling to Track Equine Reinfection Rates of Cyathostomin Species Following Anthelmintic Administration. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 9;11(5).
- Nielsen MK, Banahan M, Kaplan RM. Importation of macrocyclic lactone resistant cyathostomins on a US thoroughbred farm. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020 Dec;14:99-104.
- Seeber PA, Kuzmina TA, Greenwood AD, East ML. Effects of life history stage and climatic conditions on fecal egg counts in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti National Park. Parasitol Res 2020 Oct;119(10):3401-3413.
- Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Nielsen MK. Managing anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin parasites: Investigating the benefits of refugia-based strategies. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2019 Aug;10:118-124.
- Saeed MA, Beveridge I, Abbas G, Beasley A, Bauquier J, Wilkes E, Jacobson C, Hughes KJ, El-Hage C, O'Handley R, Hurley J, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Walter L, Tennent-Brown B, Nielsen MK, Jabbar A. Systematic review of gastrointestinal nematodes of horses from Australia. Parasit Vectors 2019 Apr 29;12(1):188.
- Sallé G, Cortet J, Bois I, Dubès C, Guyot-Sionest Q, Larrieu C, Landrin V, Majorel G, Wittreck S, Woringer E, Couroucé A, Guillot J, Jacquiet P, Guégnard F, Blanchard A, Leblond A. Risk factor analysis of equine strongyle resistance to anthelmintics. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2017 Dec;7(3):407-415.
- Zak A, Siwinska N, Slowikowska M, Borowicz H, Kubiak K, Hildebrand J, Popiolek M, Niedzwiedz A. Searching for ivermectin resistance in a Strongylidae population of horses stabled in Poland. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jul 3;13(1):210.
- Matthews JB. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2014 Dec;4(3):310-5.
- Hinney B, Wirtherle NC, Kyule M, Miethe N, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. Prevalence of helminths in horses in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Parasitol Res 2011 May;108(5):1083-91.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Collins SS. Reduced activity of moxidectin and ivermectin on small strongyles in young horses on a farm (BC) in Central Kentucky in two field tests with notes on variable counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPGs). Parasitol Res 2011 May;108(5):1315-9.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Collins SS, Ionita M, Kuzmina TA, Rossano M. Field tests demonstrating reduced activity of ivermectin and moxidectin against small strongyles in horses on 14 farms in Central Kentucky in 2007-2009. Parasitol Res 2011 Feb;108(2):355-60.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Kuzmina TA, Collins SS. Critical tests evaluating efficacy of moxidectin against small strongyles in horses from a herd for which reduced activity had been found in field tests in Central Kentucky. Parasitol Res 2010 Nov;107(6):1495-8.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Ionita M, Lewellen A, Collins SS. Field studies indicating reduced activity of ivermectin on small strongyles in horses on a farm in Central Kentucky. Parasitol Res 2008 Jun;103(1):209-15.
- 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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