FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasitol Res / Efficacy of selected anthelmintic drugs against cyathostomin...
Parasitology research2015; 114(12); 4441-4450; doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4685-7

Efficacy of selected anthelmintic drugs against cyathostomins in horses in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany.

Abstract: Cyathostomins are currently the most common internal parasites of horses. With the intensive use of anthelmintic drugs over the past decades, resistance of cyathostomins to anthelmintics is becoming a growing problem in many countries. The aim of this study was to assess the current situation on horse farms in the German federal state of Brandenburg. A pre-selected population of horses from 24 premises that had shown a prevalence of cyathostomins higher than the average in a previous study was examined for anthelmintic efficacy. Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs) were performed for ivermectin (IVM) and pyrantel (PYR). For IVM, the egg reappearance period (ERP) was also examined, as a shortened ERP can be indicative of developing resistance. The efficacy of IVM on cyathostomins was high: 99.1 % of 224 horses had a zero egg count 14 days after treatment. No shortening of the ERP was detected. For the data of the FECRT for PYR, three different methods of calculation were employed: (a) the method as recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), (b) a bootstrapping method and (c) a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. Two methods of interpretation for these data were used: Resistance was declared (a) when FECR was <90 % and the lower 95 % confidence interval (LCL) <80 % and (b) when additionally the upper 95 % confidence level (UCL) was <95 %. When applying the first interpretation, resistance against PYR was found on four yards, while, when considering the UCL, all three methods for calculation only detected resistance on one single yard. Twelve species of cyathostomins were detected in larval cultures derived from strongyle egg positive faecal samples collected 14 days after treatment with PYR by reverse line blot hybridization (RLB). In order to generate comparable data, it is suggested to establish international standards for the calculation of FECRT data.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2015-09-04 PubMed ID: 26337266DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4685-7Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 research examines the effectiveness of certain deworming drugs against cyathostomins, a common internal parasite in horses. The study was carried out in horse farms in Brandenburg, Germany, and showed that one of the drugs, Ivermectin (IVM), was highly effective while the efficacy of the other, Pyrantel (PYR), varied depending on calculation methods.

Methodology and Procedures

  • A sample size of 24 horse farms was used, all chosen due to their above-average prevalence of cyathostomins in a previous study.
  • The efficacy of the drugs IVM and PYR against the parasite was determined using a process known as Faecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRTs).
  • For IVM specifically, the duration by which egg reappearance is delayed (also known as the Egg Reappearance Period or ERP) was observed, as a shortened ERP might suggest emerging resistance to the drug.

Results and Findings

  • For horse treated with IVM, a remarkable 99.1% of the 224 horses showed zero egg count two weeks post-treatment, and no shortening of the ERP was observed. This suggests that IVM was very effective and that there was no detected development of resistance by the parasite.
  • Regarding PYR, its efficacy was assessed using three different calculation methods: (a) the standard method recommended by World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP), (b) a bootstrapping method, and (c) a Markov chain Monte Carlo method.
  • Two different methods of interpreting the data obtained from the three calculations were used: (a) resistance was declared when FECR was less than 90% and the lower 95% confidence interval (LCL) was less than 80%, and (b) an upper 95% confidence level (UCL) of less than 95% also suggested resistance.
  • The first interpretation declared resistance against PYR in four yards; however, considering the UCL, only one yard exhibited resistance according to the three calculation methods.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • Twelve types of cyathostomins were discovered in cultures derived from positive strongyle egg faecal samples gathered 14 days post treatment with PYR.
  • Results garnered from the observed methodology indicate an urgent need for international standardization in calculating FECRT data in order to generate more comparable and accurate data.

Cite This Article

APA
Fischer JK, Hinney B, Denwood MJ, Traversa D, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Clausen PH. (2015). Efficacy of selected anthelmintic drugs against cyathostomins in horses in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. Parasitol Res, 114(12), 4441-4450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4685-7

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 114
Issue: 12
Pages: 4441-4450

Researcher Affiliations

Fischer, Juliane K
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Street. 7-13, D-14163, Berlin, Germany. juliane.fischer@uba.de.
Hinney, Barbara
  • Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. barbara.hinney@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Denwood, Matthew J
  • Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. md@sund.ku.dk.
Traversa, Donato
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teramo, Italy. dtraversa@unite.it.
von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Street. 7-13, D-14163, Berlin, Germany. gvsamson@fu-berlin.de.
Clausen, Peter-Henning
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Street. 7-13, D-14163, Berlin, Germany. peter-henning.clausen@fu-berlin.de.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Germany
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Ivermectin / administration & dosage
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Strongylida / drug effects
  • Strongylida / physiology
  • Strongylida Infections / drug therapy
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

References

This article includes 29 references
  1. Lester HE, Spanton J, Stratford CH, Bartley DJ, Morgan ER, Hodgkinson JE, Coumbe K, Mair T, Swan B, Lemon G, Cookson R, Matthews JB. Anthelmintic efficacy against cyathostomins in horses in Southern England.. Vet Parasitol 2013 Oct 18;197(1-2):189-96.
    pubmed: 23830687doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.06.009google scholar: lookup
  2. Denwood MJ, Reid SW, Love S, Nielsen MK, Matthews L, McKendrick IJ, Innocent GT. Comparison of three alternative methods for analysis of equine Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test data.. Prev Vet Med 2010 Mar 1;93(4):316-23.
    pubmed: 19962203doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2009.11.009google scholar: lookup
  3. Torgerson PR, Schnyder M, Hertzberg H. Detection of anthelmintic resistance: a comparison of mathematical techniques.. Vet Parasitol 2005 Mar 31;128(3-4):291-8.
    pubmed: 15740866doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.12.009google scholar: lookup
  4. Lyndal-Murphy M, Swain AJ, Pepper PM. Methods to determine resistance to anthelmintics when continuing larval development occurs.. Vet Parasitol 2014 Jan 31;199(3-4):191-200.
    pubmed: 24314600doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.11.002google scholar: lookup
  5. Coles GC. Anthelmintic resistance and the control of worms.. J Med Microbiol 1999 Apr;48(4):323-325.
    pubmed: 10509472doi: 10.1099/00222615-48-4-323google scholar: lookup
  6. Vidyashankar AN, Kaplan RM, Chan S. Statistical approach to measure the efficacy of anthelmintic treatment on horse farms.. Parasitology 2007 Dec;134(Pt.14):2027-39.
    pubmed: 17714603doi: 10.1017/S003118200700340Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  7. Levecke B, Rinaldi L, Charlier J, Maurelli MP, Morgoglione ME, Vercruysse J, Cringoli G. Monitoring drug efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes when faecal egg counts are low: do the analytic sensitivity and the formula matter?. Parasitol Res 2011 Sep;109(3):953-7.
    pubmed: 21472403doi: 10.1007/s00436-011-2338-zgoogle scholar: lookup
  8. Kochapakdee S, Pandey VS, Pralomkarn W, Choldumrongkul S, Ngampongsai W, Lawpetchara A. Anthelmintic resistance in goats in southern Thailand.. Vet Rec 1995 Jul 29;137(5):124-5.
    pubmed: 8533258doi: 10.1136/vr.137.5.124google scholar: lookup
  9. Bauer C, Gandras R, Stoye M, Bürger HJ. [Field study of anthelmintic resistance of strongylids in horses].. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1983 Sep 1;96(9):312-6.
    pubmed: 6639640
  10. O'Meara B, Mulcahy G. A survey of helminth control practices in equine establishments in Ireland.. Vet Parasitol 2002 Oct 16;109(1-2):101-10.
    pubmed: 12383629doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(02)00249-2google scholar: lookup
  11. Cernanská D, Paoletti B, Králová-Hromadová I, Iorio R, Cudeková P, Milillo P, Traversa D. Application of a Reverse Line Blot hybridisation assay for the species-specific identification of cyathostomins (Nematoda, Strongylida) from benzimidazole-treated horses in the Slovak Republic.. Vet Parasitol 2009 Mar 9;160(1-2):171-4.
    pubmed: 19042091doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.10.078google scholar: lookup
  12. Sangster NC. Pharmacology of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomes: will it occur with the avermectin/milbemycins?. Vet Parasitol 1999 Aug 31;85(2-3):189-201; discussion 201-4, 215-25.
    pubmed: 10485365doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(99)00099-0google scholar: lookup
  13. Craven J, Bjørn H, Henriksen SA, Nansen P, Larsen M, Lendal S. Survey of anthelmintic resistance on Danish horse farms, using 5 different methods of calculating faecal egg count reduction.. Equine Vet J 1998 Jul;30(4):289-93.
    pubmed: 9705110doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04099.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Molento MB, Antunes J, Bentes RN, Coles GC. Anthelmintic resistant nematodes in Brazilian horses.. Vet Rec 2008 Mar 22;162(12):384-5.
    pubmed: 18359933doi: 10.1136/vr.162.12.384google scholar: lookup
  15. Relf VE, Lester HE, Morgan ER, Hodgkinson JE, Matthews JB. Anthelmintic efficacy on UK Thoroughbred stud farms.. Int J Parasitol 2014 Jul;44(8):507-14.
    pubmed: 24746779doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.03.006google scholar: lookup
  16. Herd RP. Control strategies for ruminant and equine parasites to counter resistance, encystment, and ecotoxicity in the USA.. Vet Parasitol 1993 Jun;48(1-4):327-36.
    pubmed: 8346646doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(93)90166-kgoogle scholar: lookup
  17. von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Fritzen B, Demeler J, Schürmann S, Rohn K, Schnieder T, Epe C. Cases of reduced cyathostomin egg-reappearance period and failure of Parascaris equorum egg count reduction following ivermectin treatment as well as survey on pyrantel efficacy on German horse farms.. Vet Parasitol 2007 Mar 15;144(1-2):74-80.
    pubmed: 17112667doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.036google scholar: lookup
  18. von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites - detection, potential clinical relevance and implications for control.. Vet Parasitol 2012 Apr 19;185(1):2-8.
    pubmed: 22100141doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.10.010google scholar: lookup
  19. Traversa D, Iorio R, Klei TR, Kharchenko VA, Gawor J, Otranto D, Sparagano OA. New method for simultaneous species-specific identification of equine strongyles (nematoda, strongylida) by reverse line blot hybridization.. J Clin Microbiol 2007 Sep;45(9):2937-42.
    pubmed: 17626168doi: 10.1128/JCM.00714-07google scholar: lookup
  20. 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.
    pubmed: 20714749doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-2025-5google scholar: lookup
  21. Pook JF, Power ML, Sangster NC, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR. Evaluation of tests for anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomes.. Vet Parasitol 2002 Jul 2;106(4):331-43.
    pubmed: 12079739doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(02)00093-6google scholar: lookup
  22. Dash KM, Hall E, Barger IA. The role of arithmetic and geometric mean worm egg counts in faecal egg count reduction tests and in monitoring strategic drenching programs in sheep.. Aust Vet J 1988 Feb;65(2):66-8.
    pubmed: 3355458doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1988.tb07359.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  23. Coles GC, Bauer C, Borgsteede FH, Geerts S, Klei TR, Taylor MA, Waller PJ. World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance.. Vet Parasitol 1992 Sep;44(1-2):35-44.
    pubmed: 1441190doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(92)90141-ugoogle scholar: lookup
  24. 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.
    pubmed: 21559764doi: 10.1007/s00436-011-2434-0google scholar: lookup
  25. Traversa D, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Demeler J, Milillo P, Schürmann S, Barnes H, Otranto D, Perrucci S, di Regalbono AF, Beraldo P, Boeckh A, Cobb R. Anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin populations from horse yards in Italy, United Kingdom and Germany.. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S2.
    pubmed: 19778463doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-S2-S2google scholar: lookup
  26. Traversa D, Castagna G, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Meloni S, Bartolini R, Geurden T, Pearce MC, Woringer E, Besognet B, Milillo P, D'Espois M. Efficacy of major anthelmintics against horse cyathostomins in France.. Vet Parasitol 2012 Sep 10;188(3-4):294-300.
    pubmed: 22538094doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.048google scholar: lookup
  27. Boersema JH, Eysker M, Nas JW. Apparent resistance of Parascaris equorum to macrocylic lactones.. Vet Rec 2002 Mar 2;150(9):279-81.
    pubmed: 11924584doi: 10.1136/vr.150.9.279google scholar: lookup
  28. Cringoli G, Rinaldi L, Maurelli MP, Utzinger J. FLOTAC: new multivalent techniques for qualitative and quantitative copromicroscopic diagnosis of parasites in animals and humans.. Nat Protoc 2010 Mar;5(3):503-15.
    pubmed: 20203667doi: 10.1038/nprot.2009.235google scholar: lookup
  29. Kaplan RM. Anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of horses.. Vet Res 2002 Sep-Oct;33(5):491-507.
    pubmed: 12387486doi: 10.1051/vetres:2002035google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. 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.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.03.001pubmed: 36940551google scholar: lookup
  2. Boelow H, Krücken J, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Epidemiological study on factors influencing the occurrence of helminth eggs in horses in Germany based on sent-in diagnostic samples. Parasitol Res 2023 Mar;122(3):749-767.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07765-4pubmed: 36627515google scholar: lookup
  3. 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.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.12.002pubmed: 36543048google scholar: lookup
  4. Abbas G, Ghafar A, Hurley J, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Wilkes EJA, Jacobson C, El-Hage C, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Tennent-Brown B, Gauci CG, Nielsen MK, Hughes KJ, Beveridge I, Jabbar A. Cyathostomin resistance to moxidectin and combinations of anthelmintics in Australian horses. Parasit Vectors 2021 Dec 4;14(1):597.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-05103-8pubmed: 34863271google scholar: lookup
  5. Peña-Espinoza M, Thamsborg SM, Denwood MJ, Drag M, Hansen TV, Jensen VF, Enemark HL. Efficacy of ivermectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Denmark evaluated by different methods for analysis of faecal egg count reduction. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2016 Dec;6(3):241-250.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.10.004pubmed: 27835769google scholar: lookup
  6. Šarkūnas M, Schwahn A, Suleimanova K. A pilot study on the potency of injectable vs. oral moxidectin formulation to suppress strongyle egg excretion in horses at twice lower dose. Helminthologia 2025 Jun;62(2):87-94.
    doi: 10.2478/helm-2025-0018pubmed: 41058774google scholar: lookup
  7. Nielsen MK. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes: Current status and emerging trends. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022 Dec;20:76-88.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.10.005pubmed: 36342004google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.