Endoparasite control management on horse farms–lessons from worm prevalence and questionnaire data.
Abstract: Increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes calls for a reexamination of current parasite control programmes to identify factors influencing control efficacy and development of resistance. Objective: To investigate if associations occur between prevalence of parasitic nematodes and management practices. Methods: German horse farms (n = 76) were investigated in 2003 and 2004. Information on farm and pasture management with respect to endoparasite control measures obtained using a questionnaire survey. Faecal examinations were performed in parallel. Results: Horses (n = 2000) were examined by faecal nematode egg counts, grouped into foals, yearlings and mature individuals for statistical analyses. Farms were categorised into 3 types, riding, stud farms and small holdings. Count regression models were used to analyse strongyle faecal egg count data. Following dichotomisation of faecal egg count (FEC) data, prevalence of strongyle and Parascaris equorum infections were assessed by logistic regression models as a function from various management factors. Yearlings on stud farms showed a 2-fold higher risk of being positive for strongyle FEC, higher (i.e. > or =3 per year) anthelmintic drug treatment frequencies were associated with reduced strongyle infection rates only in mature individuals but not in foals or yearlings, foals on farms fertilising pastures with horse manure had a significantly higher risk of being P. equorum FEC positive and yearlings on stud farms were more often showing incomplete FECR following anthelmintic treatment compared to yearlings on other farm types. The mean yearly treatment frequencies per age group were: foals 4.52, yearlings 3.26 and mature horses 2.72 times, respectively. Conclusions: To delay the development of anthelmintic, resistance management should include additional nonchemotherapeutic parasite control strategies, FEC-monitoring, controlled quarantine treatment of new arrivals and control of efficacy by the faecal egg count reduction test on a regular basis.
Publication Date: 2010-02-04 PubMed ID: 20121919DOI: 10.2746/042516409X471485Google 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.
- 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.
This research examines the increasing resistance of equine worms to deworming medicine in Germany and identifies factors that affect the effectiveness of control measures. The research found that certain management practices like frequent deworming and use of horse manure as fertiliser, were associated with heightened infection rates in certain equine age groups, pointing to the necessity for reevaluation of control strategies, including additional non-drug tactics.
Research Methodology and Sample
- The study was conducted on 76 horse farms across Germany during 2003 and 2004.
- Research relied on both quantitative (faecal examinations) and qualitative data (questionnaire survey).
- The horses, numbering 2000, were grouped based on age: foals, yearlings and mature horses.
- The farms were also categorized into three types; Riding, Stud farms and Small holdings.
Evaluation Process
- The researchers evaluated the presence of parasitic nematode eggs in the horse excreta.
- Regression models were used to analyze the data obtained from faecal egg count.
- This data was then dichotomised to evaluate the prevalence of strongyle and Parascaris equorum infections.
Research Findings
- Yearlings on stud farms carried a 2-fold higher risk of showing positive for strongyle faecal egg count compared to those on other farm types.
- Frequent treatments with deworming medicine reduced strongyle infection rates only in mature horses but not in foals or yearlings.
- Farms that used horse manure as a fertiliser had foals with a significantly higher risk of positive P. equorum faecal egg count.
- Across age groups, treatment frequencies on average were: foals 4.52, yearlings 3.26, and mature horses 2.72 times respectively per year.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The study recommends a rethink of deworming strategy given the increasing resistance to anthelmintic drugs.
- Some of the suggested changes include: employing additional non-chemotherapeutic strategies, routine monitoring of faecal egg count, controlled treatment of new arrivals, and periodic evaluation of control efficacy by means of the faecal egg count reduction test.
Cite This Article
APA
Fritzen B, Rohn K, Schnieder T, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.
(2010).
Endoparasite control management on horse farms–lessons from worm prevalence and questionnaire data.
Equine Vet J, 42(1), 79-83.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409X471485 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic for Horses, Dr. H. Werhahn and Dr. M. Paar, Alte Dorfstrasse 43-45, D-27367 Sottrum, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / pharmacology
- Data Collection
- Drug Resistance
- Feces / parasitology
- Germany / epidemiology
- Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
- Helminthiasis, Animal / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Parasite Egg Count
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, Vázquez-Mendoza P, Alvarado-Ramírez ER, Cedillo-Monroy J, De Palo P, Salem AZM. Moringa oleifera as a Natural Alternative for the Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Equines: A Review.. Plants (Basel) 2023 May 8;12(9).
- Elghryani N, McOwan T, Mincher C, Duggan V, de Waal T. Estimating the Prevalence and Factors Affecting the Shedding of Helminth Eggs in Irish Equine Populations.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 7;13(4).
- 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.
- Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Bousquet E, Bartz J, Heyer N, Nielsen MK, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Occurrence of Strongylid Nematode Parasites on Horse Farms in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, With High Seroprevalence of Strongylus vulgaris Infection.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:892920.
- Boelow H, Krücken J, Thomas E, Mirams G, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Comparison of FECPAK(G2), a modified Mini-FLOTAC technique and combined sedimentation and flotation for the coproscopic examination of helminth eggs in horses.. Parasit Vectors 2022 May 12;15(1):166.
- Zanet S, Battisti E, Labate F, Oberto F, Ferroglio E. Reduced Efficacy of Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate Treatments against Intestinal Nematodes of Stud and Performance Horses.. Vet Sci 2021 Mar 5;8(3).
- 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).
- Hernández JÁ, Sánchez-Andrade R, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Arroyo FL, Sanchís JM, Paz-Silva A, Arias MS. A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in an oceanic climate region: rotational grazing and parasiticidal fungi.. Parasit Vectors 2018 Apr 12;11(1):240.
- Hernández JA, Vázquez-Ruiz RA, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Valderrábano E, Arroyo FL, Francisco I, Miguélez S, Sánchez-Andrade R, Paz-Silva A, Arias MS. Isolation of Ovicidal Fungi from Fecal Samples of Captive Animals Maintained in a Zoological Park.. J Fungi (Basel) 2017 Jun 2;3(2).
- 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.
- Raue K, Heuer L, Böhm C, Wolken S, Epe C, Strube C. 10-year parasitological examination results (2003 to 2012) of faecal samples from horses, ruminants, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits and hedgehogs.. Parasitol Res 2017 Dec;116(12):3315-3330.
- Sallé G, Cabaret J. A survey on parasite management by equine veterinarians highlights the need for a regulation change.. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(2):e000104.
- von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Traversa D, Demeler J, Rohn K, Milillo P, Schurmann S, Lia R, Perrucci S, di Regalbono AF, Beraldo P, Barnes H, Cobb R, Boeckh A. Effects of worm control practices examined by a combined faecal egg count and questionnaire survey on horse farms in Germany, Italy and the UK.. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S3.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
