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Home / Equine Research Bank / Helminthologia / Drug Efficacy of Ivermectin Against Primary Nematodes Parasi...
Helminthologia2020; 57(1); 57-62; doi: 10.2478/helm-2020-0004

Drug Efficacy of Ivermectin Against Primary Nematodes Parasitizing Captive Przewalski’s Horse (Equus Ferus Przewalskii) after Ten Years of Annually Treatment.

Abstract: Reintroduction of endangered species to natural habitat is considered as an important tool for conservation. The effect of drug management on captive population of reintroduced species is largely neglected. Decreased drug efficacy could pose a substantial threat to health of animals. More importantly, captive population without proper drug administration could act as transmission medium of resistance nematodes to wild population, making it important to delay the occurrence of drug resistance in captive population. Ivermectin have been used in captive Przewalski's horse () to eradicate intestinal parasitic nematodes annually, while no available studies describing the drug efficacy in the recent ten years. Here, fecal egg counts pre- and post-treatment were performed with ivermectin through individual trace. Both large and small strongyles were identifi ed by larval culture. The fecal egg count reduction was almost 100% based on egg counting data of 448 samples from 13 Przewalski's horses. Feces of two Przewalski's horses were sampled for successive 20 days. Eggs per gram feces usually increased dramatically at the period of 1 - 2 post-treatment days and declined persistently to 0.0 within 15 days. A sustained high ivermectin efficacy against neither nor strongyles was indicated, which can be partly explained by the low deworm frequency.
© 2020 L. Tang, Y. Xiu, L. Yan, Y. Cui, X. Ma, M. Ente, Y. Zhang, K. Li, D. Zhang, published by Sciendo.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-25 PubMed ID: 32063741PubMed Central: PMC6996257DOI: 10.2478/helm-2020-0004Google 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 study explores the effectiveness of ivermectin, a drug used to eradicate intestinal parasitic worms, in captive Przewalski’s horses over a period of ten years. It shows that the medication maintains high efficiency, reducing the number of worm eggs in feces to nearly zero within 15 days of treatment.

Research Background

  • The focus of this study is on the reintroduction of endangered species into their natural habitats, specifically the Przewalski’s horse. The health management, particularly parasite control, of these reintroduced species is a crucial conservation aspect.
  • While ivermectin has been used annually to treat these horses against intestinal parasitic nematodes, no recent studies have assessed its sustained efficacy over time.
  • The researchers aim to fill this gap, highlighting the importance of delaying the onset of drug resistance to preserve both the health of the captive population and to prevent the transmission of resistant parasites to wild populations.

Methodology

  • To measure the effectiveness of ivermectin, the study relied on fecal egg counts before and after treatment for each horse.
  • Apart from monitoring the general egg count reduction, the researchers specifically identified large and small strongyles via larval culture.
  • They tested a total of 448 samples from 13 Przewalski’s horses.
  • In addition, the feces of two horses were sampled for 20 consecutive days to study the drug’s residual action over time.

Findings

  • The findings indicated that ivermectin’s efficacy remained high throughout the decade, with a nearly 100% egg count reduction in the horses’ feces.
  • The usual pattern observed was a dramatic increase in eggs per gram of feces 1-2 days after treatment, followed by a consistent decline to 0.0 within 15 days.
  • The sustained high effectiveness of ivermectin against both large and small strongyles suggests a low likelihood of deworming frequency being a contributory factor to potential drug resistance.

Implications

  • This research supports the continued use of ivermectin in managing intestinal parasitic worms in captive Przewalski’s horses, considering its maintained efficacy over an extended period.
  • Such long-term effectiveness helps in the conservation efforts of this endangered species, by ensuring better health in captivity and reducing the risk of resistant parasites being transferred to the wild population.
  • Conducting regular studies to monitor drug effectiveness over time is essential to mitigate health threats to endangered species and maintain successful conservation programs.

Cite This Article

APA
Tang L, Xiu Y, Yan L, Cui Y, Ma X, Ente M, Zhang Y, Li K, Zhang D. (2020). Drug Efficacy of Ivermectin Against Primary Nematodes Parasitizing Captive Przewalski’s Horse (Equus Ferus Przewalskii) after Ten Years of Annually Treatment. Helminthologia, 57(1), 57-62. https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2020-0004

Publication

Helminthologia
ISSN: 0440-6605
NlmUniqueID: 0043764
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 1
Pages: 57-62

Researcher Affiliations

Tang, L
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Xiu, Y
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Yan, L
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Cui, Y
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Ma, X
  • Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wild Horse Breeding Research Center, Urumqi, Xinjiang 831704, China.
Ente, M
  • Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wild Horse Breeding Research Center, Urumqi, Xinjiang 831704, China.
Zhang, Y
  • Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wild Horse Breeding Research Center, Urumqi, Xinjiang 831704, China.
Li, K
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhang, D
  • Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.

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