Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports2018; 14; 25-31; doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.08.002

Management practices associated with strongylid parasite prevalence on horse farms in rural counties of Kentucky.

Abstract: Anthelmintic resistance among cyathostomin parasites is a wide-spread problem. The parasite control guidelines written by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) encourages the preservation of anthelmintic efficacy by reducing treatment frequency, using targeted deworming, and implementing environmental management practices. While there is knowledge regarding parasite management practices of affluent horse farms in the United States, surveys rarely explore the rural and underserved regions. The purpose of this study was to observe the management practices of horse farms in rural regions Kentucky, including working Amish farms, and determine factors associated with strongyle prevalence. A total of 160 horses among 38 owners from 28 different farms were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey regarding equine information, farm management, and deworming history was performed with each owner. Fecal samples were collected to determine fecal egg counts, perform coprocultures for subsequent strongyle larvae identification, and Strongylus vulgaris specific PCR. Serum samples were collected for the S. vulgaris antibody specific ELISA. The mean number of deworming treatments given in the last year was 2.1 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.9-2.3 with ivermectin being the most common active used. Statistical analysis showed horses treated within the last three months with a macrocylic lactone (ML) drug had significantly lower egg counts than horses treated with a ML 7-9 months ago (p = .0005). Despite the AAEP recommendations to reduce the overall number of treatments by using a surveillance-based approach and to no longer rotate treatments, only 17 horses reportedly had a fecal sample submitted for a fecal egg count and 65 horses were dewormed in a rotational manner. Horses whose owners utilized an informative deworming source (i.e., veterinarian, internet, magazine, local feed store) also had significantly lower counts (p = .0026). All coprocultures were negative for S. vulgaris while five horses were PCR positive. Interestingly, 95 horses tested ELISA positive for S. vulgaris. The strongyle egg counts of the working Amish horses were not significantly different from the other horses in this study and deworming practices including the use of efficacious drugs and low treatment frequencies were in accordance with the AAEP guidelines. This study was the first to summarize deworming management practices of rural regions in Kentucky, including a working Amish community. Overall, horse owners employed deworming practices recommended by the AAEP, however rotational deworming is still commonly implemented and fecal egg counts are rarely used.
Publication Date: 2018-08-23 PubMed ID: 31014733DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.08.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article focuses on the management practices of horse farms in rural Kentucky areas, including working Amish farms, and their relationship with strongylid parasite prevalence. It emphasizes that contrary to AAEP guidelines, rotational deworming is still widespread and fecal egg count tests are rarely used, despite their effectiveness in managing parasite infection.

Objective and Methodology

  • This study aimed to understand management practices in horse farms located in rural Kentucky regions and how these practices impact the prevalence of strongyle parasites.
  • A total of 160 horses from 38 different owners across 28 farms were involved in the research, expanding to the working Amish community as well.
  • Data collection involved a survey about equine information, farm management, and horses’ deworming history. Laboratory tests including fecal egg counts, coprocultures, S. vulgaris specific PCR, and S. vulgaris antibody-specific ELISA were conducted on collected samples.

Findings

  • The analysis showed that horses treated with a macrocyclic lactone (ML) drug in the last three months had considerably lower egg counts than those treated 7-9 months ago.
  • Contrary to the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) recommendations for a surveillance-based approach and discontinuing rotational treatments, the majority of horse owners still implemented a rotational deworming approach and only a few used fecal egg count tests.
  • It was noted that horse owners who consulted informative sources (such as veterinarians, internet resources, magazines, etc.) for deworming information significantly recorded lower egg counts. This highlights the importance of reliable and credible information sources for proper equine health management.
  • All the coprocultures tested negative for S. vulgaris, though five horses were PCR positive and 95 horses tested ELISA positive. Thus, there appears to be a discrepancy between the types of tests used and the results they yield.
  • The study didn’t find any significant difference in strongyle egg counts between working Amish horses and others, suggesting that the deworming practices of the Amish community are in line with AAEP guidelines.

Conclusion

  • This was the first study to summarize deworming management practices in rural regions of Kentucky, including the working Amish community.
  • Though the horse owners generally adhered to the AAEP’s recommended deworming practices, misuse of rotational deworming was still prevalent and fecal egg count tests remained underutilized, both of which entail opportunities for better equine health management.

Cite This Article

APA
Scare JA, Steuer AE, Gravatte HS, Ku00e1lmu00e1n C, Ramires L, Dias de Castro LL, Norris JK, Miller F, Camargo F, Lawyer A, De Pedro P, Jolly B, Nielsen MK. (2018). Management practices associated with strongylid parasite prevalence on horse farms in rural counties of Kentucky. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 14, 25-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.08.002

Publication

ISSN: 2405-9390
NlmUniqueID: 101680410
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 14
Pages: 25-31
PII: S2405-9390(18)30099-6

Researcher Affiliations

Scare, J A
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: Jessica.scare@uky.edu.
Steuer, A E
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Gravatte, H S
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Ku00e1lmu00e1n, Cs
  • u00c1llatorvostudomu00e1nyi Egyetem - University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
Ramires, L
  • Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, Brazil.
Dias de Castro, L L
  • Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil.
Norris, J K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Miller, F
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Camargo, F
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Lawyer, A
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
De Pedro, P
  • Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Jolly, B
  • Hardin County Cooperative Extension, University of Kentucky, Elizabethtown, KY, USA.
Nielsen, M K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Farms
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
  • Kentucky / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Prevalence
  • Rural Population
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control
  • Strongylus / genetics
  • Strongylus / isolation & purification
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci8030042pubmed: 33807857google scholar: lookup
  2. Scala A, Tamponi C, Sanna G, Predieri G, Dessu00ec G, Sedda G, Buono F, Cappai MG, Veneziano V, Varcasia A. Gastrointestinal Strongyles Egg Excretion in Relation to Age, Gender, and Management of Horses in Italy.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 3;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122283pubmed: 33287298google scholar: lookup
  3. Hedberg-Alm Y, Penell J, Riihimu00e4ki M, Osterman-Lind E, Nielsen MK, Tydu00e9n E. Parasite Occurrence and Parasite Management in Swedish Horses Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease-A Case-Control Study.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 7;10(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10040638pubmed: 32272754google scholar: lookup
  4. Scare JA, Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Lyons ET, Steuer AE, Jones BA, Clark M, Nielsen MK. Dealing with double trouble: Combination deworming against double-drug resistant cyathostomins.. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020 Apr;12:28-34.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.12.002pubmed: 31883485google scholar: lookup
  5. Cain JL, Foulk D, Jedrzejewski E, Stofanak H, Nielsen MK. The importance of anthelmintic efficacy monitoring: results of an outreach effort.. Parasitol Res 2019 Oct;118(10):2877-2883.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06423-6pubmed: 31422463google scholar: lookup