Facing the threat of equine parasitic disease.
Abstract: Horses worldwide are exposed to a complex mixture of intestinal parasitic helminths. When burdens are high, these parasites can seriously compromise health and welfare. Some helminth species have an extremely high prevalence and are difficult to control, not least because there is a limited understanding of their most basic biology. Furthermore, levels of resistance to some of the commonly used anthelmintics are widespread and increasing. The cyathostomins are the most common nematode species affecting equids worldwide. Within this group of parasites are more than 50 different species. Until recent research activities, little was known about the contribution that individual species make to clinical disease, parasite epidemiology and anthelmintic resistance. This review describes some of the recent research advances in the understanding of cyathostomins in these areas. As part of the research effort, molecular tools were developed to facilitate identification of the non-parasitic stages of cyathostomins. These tools have proved invaluable in the investigation of the relative contributions that individual species make to the pathology and epidemiology of mixed infections. At the more applied level, research has also progressed in the development of a diagnostic test that will allow numbers of cyathostomin encysted larvae to be estimated. This test utilises cyathostomin-specific serum antibody responses as markers of infection. As anthelmintic resistance will be the major constraint on parasite control in future, researchers are actively investigating mechanisms of drug resistance and how to improve the detection of resistance in the field. Recent developments in these areas are also outlined.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-20 PubMed ID: 21592204DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00356.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
- Anthelmintic Resistance
- Anthelmintic Treatment
- Cyathostomins
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Molecular biology
- Nematodes
- Parasites
- Pathology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article focuses on the impact of intestinal parasitic helminths on horses worldwide, particularly a group of these parasites called cyathostomins. By using recently developed molecular tools and exploring drug resistance mechanisms, the researchers aim to improve knowledge and control of these parasitic diseases.
Complexity of Equine Parasitic Diseases
- The helminths, or parasitic worms, affecting the intestines of horses globally are a complex mix and when present in large numbers, can seriously compromise the health and overall well-being of horses.
- Certain species of these parasites are highly prevalent and challenging to control due to the limited understanding of their basic biology.
- Resistance to commonly-used anthelmintics (drugs that combat helminths) is common and increasing.
In-depth Research on Cyathostomins
- The most common nematode (a type of helminth) species affecting horses worldwide falls into the group known as cyathostomins.
- This group is extremely diverse, encompassing over 50 different species.
- Prior to the recent scientific investigations, little was known about the role each species played in clinical disease, parasite prevalence, and anthelmintic resistance.
Advanced Molecular Tools and Diagnostic Tests
- The research led to the development of molecular tools that enable identification of the non-parasitic stages of cyathostomins, greatly aiding in the investigation of the damage each species contributes to mixed infections.
- Further effort was made in creating a diagnostic test which can estimate the numbers of encysted cyathostomin larvae – it uses cyathostomin-specific serum antibody responses as markers of infection.
Addressing Anthelmintic Resistance
- With anthelmintic resistance becoming an increasingly critical obstacle in parasite control, the focus of research is now on understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance.
- Researchers are also working towards improving in-field detection of resistance, and recent advancements in these areas are discussed in the study.
Cite This Article
APA
Matthews JB.
(2011).
Facing the threat of equine parasitic disease.
Equine Vet J, 43(2), 126-132.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00356.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Moredun Research Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK. jacqui.matthews@moredun.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Cestode Infections / drug therapy
- Cestode Infections / prevention & control
- Cestode Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Nematode Infections / drug therapy
- Nematode Infections / prevention & control
- Nematode Infections / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Rodriguez Velazquez D, Forte L, Varela Guerrero JA, Díaz Alvarado T, Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, De Palo P, Salem AZM. Could Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) Help Control Gastrointestinal Parasites in Horses?. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 28;15(9).
- 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.
- Mureşan A, Mureşan C, Siteavu M, Avram E, Bochynska D, Taulescu M. An Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-4 in an Ecological Donkey Milk Farm in Romania. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Mar 18;10(3).
- Peachey LE, Castro C, Molena RA, Jenkins TP, Griffin JL, Cantacessi C. Dysbiosis associated with acute helminth infections in herbivorous youngstock - observations and implications. Sci Rep 2019 Jul 31;9(1):11121.
- Peachey LE, Molena RA, Jenkins TP, Di Cesare A, Traversa D, Hodgkinson JE, Cantacessi C. The relationships between faecal egg counts and gut microbial composition in UK Thoroughbreds infected by cyathostomins. Int J Parasitol 2018 May;48(6):403-412.
- Hellman LT, Akula S, Thorpe M, Fu Z. Tracing the Origins of IgE, Mast Cells, and Allergies by Studies of Wild Animals. Front Immunol 2017;8:1749.
- Abo-Aziza FAM, Hendawy SHM, Namaky AHE, Ashry HM. Th1/Th2 balance and humoral immune response to potential antigens as early diagnostic method of equine Strongylus nematode infection. Vet World 2017 Jun;10(6):679-687.
- Scantlebury CE, Peachey L, Hodgkinson J, Matthews JB, Trawford A, Mulugeta G, Tefera G, Pinchbeck GL. Participatory study of medicinal plants used in the control of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys in Eastern Shewa and Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia. BMC Vet Res 2013 Sep 11;9:179.
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