Effects of three anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic in horses.
Abstract: Four privately owned herds (25 to 49 animals per herd) were used in a five-year trial designed to evaluate the effect of anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic. These herds had been treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin, non-benzimidazole drugs for two years before the trial. Prior parasitological studies showed that they had substantial pre-treatment faecal egg counts (900 to 2200 eggs per gramme), and that they were infected with benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes. In Years 1 and 2 of the trial, all herds (A, B, C, D) were treated bi-monthly with non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule I). In Years 3 to 5, Herd A received monthly non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule II) and Herd C was treated with bi-monthly ivermectin (Schedule III). Herd B was treated with Schedule II in Years 3 and 4 and Schedule III in Year 5. Herd D was maintained on Schedule I throughout the study period. In each herd, the incidence of colic, while on Schedule I, was compared to the incidence while on Schedule II or III. The risk of colic for horses on Schedule I was 2.61 to 13.04 times that of the same horses while on Schedule II and 2.27 to 9.64 times that of the same horses while on Schedule III. In Herd D, treated according to Schedule I for five years, the incidence of colic did not vary significantly throughout the study period. More effective anthelmintic treatment schedules decreased the incidence of colic in these herds, supporting the conclusion that bimonthly treatment with non-ivermectin drugs may not maximise horses' health in all management conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1990-07-01 PubMed ID: 2209521DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04263.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses a five-year study wherein the effect of different deworming (anthelmintic) schedules on the incidence of colic in horses was evaluated. The findings suggest that more effective deworming schedules lowered the incidence of colic, implying that bi-monthly treatment with non-ivermectin drugs may not always be the best for maintaining horses’ health.
Study Design and Groups
- The study was conducted over a five-year period involving four privately owned herds that ranged from 25 to 49 animals per herd. These herds had been receiving a bi-monthly anthelmintic treatment with non-ivermectin, non-benzimidazole drugs for two years prior to the trial.
- Prior studies indicated that these herds had significant pre-treatment faecal egg counts showing benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes infection.
- The herds were labelled as A, B, C, and D. In the initial two years, all herds were subjected to bi-monthly treatment with non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule I).
Intervention and Group Specific Schedules
- In the subsequent years (3 to 5), the herds received different treatment schedules. Herd A received monthly non-ivermectin anthelmintics (Schedule II) and Herd C was treated with bi-monthly ivermectin (Schedule III).
- Herd B received Schedule II treatment in Years 3 and 4, and Schedule III treatment in Year 5.
- Herd D stayed on Schedule I for the entire study period.
Results and Conclusion
- The study compared the incidence of colic in each herd while on Schedule I with their incidence while on Schedule II or III. The results showed that the risk of colic for horses on Schedule I was considerably higher compared to when the same horses were on Schedule II or III.
- In Herd D, which remained on Schedule I throughout the study period, there was no significant change in the incidence of colic over the five years.
- The conclusion was drawn that more effective anthelmintic treatment schedules can lower the incidence of colic, implying that the standard bi-monthly treatment with non-ivermectin drugs may not always be the most effective for maintaining horses’ health under all conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Uhlinger C.
(1990).
Effects of three anthelmintic schedules on the incidence of colic in horses.
Equine Vet J, 22(4), 251-254.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04263.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh 27606.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Colic / prevention & control
- Colic / veterinary
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Feces / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Incidence
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / drug therapy
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
- Ivermectin / administration & dosage
- Ivermectin / therapeutic use
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Prospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Gehlen H, Wulke N, Ertelt A, Nielsen MK, Morelli S, Traversa D, Merle R, Wilson D, Samson-Himmelstjerna GV. Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Helminth Infections in Colic and Non-Colic Control Equine Patients. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 19;10(10).
- Hedberg-Alm Y, Penell J, Riihimäki M, Osterman-Lind E, Nielsen MK, Tydén E. Parasite Occurrence and Parasite Management in Swedish Horses Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease-A Case-Control Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 7;10(4).
- Curtis L, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL. Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0219307.
- Molena RA, Peachey LE, Di Cesare A, Traversa D, Cantacessi C. Cyathostomine egg reappearance period following ivermectin treatment in a cohort of UK Thoroughbreds. Parasit Vectors 2018 Jan 25;11(1):61.
- Tomczuk K, Kostro K, Grzybek M, Szczepaniak K, Studzińska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M. Seasonal changes of diagnostic potential in the detection of Anoplocephala perfoliata equine infections in the climate of Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2015 Feb;114(2):767-72.
- Kuzmina TA. Contamination of the environment by strongylid (Nematoda: Strongylidae) infective larvae at horse farms of various types in Ukraine. Parasitol Res 2012 May;110(5):1665-74.
- Hinney B, Wirtherle NC, Kyule M, Miethe N, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. A questionnaire survey on helminth control on horse farms in Brandenburg, Germany and the assessment of risks caused by different kinds of management. Parasitol Res 2011 Dec;109(6):1625-35.
- 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.
- Peregrine AS, McEwen B, Bienzle D, Koch TG, Weese JS. Larval cyathostominosis in horses in Ontario: an emerging disease?. Can Vet J 2006 Jan;47(1):80-2.
- Hodgkinson JE, Freeman KL, Lichtenfels JR, Palfreman S, Love S, Matthews JB. Identification of strongyle eggs from anthelmintic-treated horses using a PCR-ELISA based on intergenic DNA sequences. Parasitol Res 2005 Mar;95(4):287-92.
- Matthews JB, Peczak N, Lightbody KL. The Use of Innovative Diagnostics to Inform Sustainable Control of Equine Helminth Infections. Pathogens 2023 Oct 11;12(10).
- Jia H, Gao S, Tang L, Fu Y, Xiong Y, Ente M, Mubalake S, Shao C, Li K, Hu D, Zhang D. First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China. Parasit Vectors 2023 Oct 25;16(1):385.
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