Demonstration of reduced efficacy against cyathostomins without change in species composition after pyrantel embonate treatment in Swedish equine establishments.
Abstract: Consisting of approximately 50 different species, the cyathostomin parasites are ubiquitous in grazing horses. Co-infection with several species is common, and large burdens can cause the fatal disease of larval cyathostominosis. Due to intense anthelmintic drug use, cyathostomin resistance has developed to all available anthelmintic drug groups. Resistance to the anthelmintic drug pyrantel (PYR) has been documented in over 90% of studies published over the past two decades. In Sweden, a study performed in the early 2000s only confirmed resistance in 4.5% of farms. Further, prescription-only administration of equine anthelmintic drugs was enforced in Sweden in 2007. However, it is unknown if this conservative drug use has maintained PYR efficacy in cyathostomins. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PYR on cyathostomin infection in Sweden using fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs). Further, the effect of PYR treatment on cyathostomin species composition was studied using metabarcoding. Sixteen farms with at least six horses excreting a minimum of 100 eggs per gram feces were included. Using the current World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) guidelines, PYR resistance was demonstrated in nine of farms, with seven farms showing full susceptibility. Farms with low biosecurity measures had significantly lower efficacy of PYR treatment. The most common cyathostomin species were Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cys. calicatus, Cys. goldi, Cys. minutus, Coronocyclus coronatus and Cya. pateratum, accounting for 97% of all sequence reads prior to treatment. Of these, Cyc. nassatus and Cya. catinatum had the highest occurrence, accounting for 68% of all sequence reads prior to PYR treatment. Treatment did not significantly affect the species composition. The results highlight the importance of drug efficacy testing when using PYR to treat cyathostomin infection, even when selective anthelmintic treatment and thus low treatment intensity, is used on the farm.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2023-11-14 PubMed ID: 37979235PubMed Central: PMC10690405DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.11.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the reduced effectiveness of pyrantel embonate, an anthelmintic drug, against a type of horse parasite known as cyathostomins. Despite lower usage of the drug in Sweden, their study still found resistance in more than half of the studied farms.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The objective of this study was to understand the effectiveness of the anthelmintic drug, pyrantel embonate, against cyathostomin infection in horses in Sweden.
- This was done using two main techniques: fecal egg count reduction tests (to quantify the number of parasites before and after drug treatment) and metabarcoding (to identify different species of cyathostomins).
- Sixteen farms with at least six horses were included in the study, with each horse excreting a minimum of 100 eggs per gram of feces (indicating presence of parasites).
Findings of the Research
- Following the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology guidelines, pyrantel resistance was observed in nine out of sixteen farms, showing that more than half of the farms in the study experienced resistance. Seven farms showed full susceptibility to the drug.
- It was also observed that farms with low biosecurity measures (measures intended to prevent the spread of diseases) had significantly lower efficacy of pyrantel treatment.
- On analyzing the species composition, the most common cyathostomin species identified were Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cyathostomum catinatum, which accounted for 68% of all sequence reads prior to treatment. However, the treatment did not significantly affect the species composition, meaning resistance to the drug wasn’t species-specific.
Crucial Insights and Implications
- The results shed light on the importance of efficiency testing of drugs like pyrantel embonate, even when selective anthelmintic treatment and low treatment intensity methods are employed on the farm. This is to ensure that the drug is still effective in combating the parasites and that resistance isn’t building.
- The research also highlights the potential for parasite resistance against commonly used drugs, indicating a need for continuous monitoring and development of alternative treatment strategies.
This research, therefore, provides crucial insights that can help shape efforts to prevent and control cyathostomin infections in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hedberg Alm Y, Halvarsson P, Martin F, Osterman-Lind E, Törngren V, Tydén E.
(2023).
Demonstration of reduced efficacy against cyathostomins without change in species composition after pyrantel embonate treatment in Swedish equine establishments.
Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist, 23, 78-86.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.11.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Parasitology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ylva.hedberg.alm@slu.se.
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Parasitology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Parasitology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Microbiology, Section for Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), SE-751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Parasitology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Parasitology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Eva Tyden reports financial support was provided by The Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research.
References
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