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Preventive veterinary medicine2007; 82(3-4); 314-320; doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2007.07.006

Occurrence of anthelmintic resistant equine cyathostome populations in central and southern Italy.

Abstract: In the present survey, 276 horses bred on 16 farms located in central and southern Italy were investigated for the presence of drug resistant cyathostomes by a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). Sixteen to 20 animals were selected on each farm and randomly assigned to one of four equally sized treatment groups. Groups were treated with fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin or moxidectin. Resistance to fenbendazole was declared on six farms (37.5%) and suspected in two farms (12.5%), with FECR values ranging from 41% to 88.3%. Resistance to pyrantel was found in two farms (12.5%) and was suspected in one case (6.2%), with FECR values ranging from 43% to 85.4%. Macrocyclic lactones remained effective on all farms. Only cyathostome third stage larvae (L3) were found in fecal cultures after treatment. This paper reports the first wide survey conducted in Italy for anthelmintic resistance in equine cyathostomes. The results indicate that multiple drug resistant equine cyathostomes are present in the central and southern regions of Italy. These data call for a geographically and numerically broader investigation of horse farms in all regions and for the development and implementation -among veterinarians, owners and managers of a plan to reduce the expansion of these anthelmintic resistant populations and control these important parasites.
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Publication Date: 2007-08-24 PubMed ID: 17719664DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2007.07.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

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 article assessed the prevalence of drug-resistant cyathostomes (a type of parasitic worms) in horses across 16 farms in central and southern Italy, and found that multiple drug-resistant equine cyathostomes are indeed present in those regions.

Research Methodology

  • A total of 276 horses, bred across 16 farms in central and southern Italy, were chosen for this study.
  • The presence of drug-resistant cyathostomes was examined by using a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT).
  • Each farm had 16 to 20 horses chosen for the study, which were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups.
  • These groups were treated with either fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin, or moxidectin – all of which are anthelmintic drugs used to treat parasitic worm infestations.

Research Findings

  • Resistance to fenbendazole was found on six farms (37.5%) and suspected on two more farms (12.5%), with the rate of fecal egg count reduction (FECR) after treatment ranging between 41% to 88.3%.
  • Resistance to pyrantel pamoate was detected in two farms (12.5%) and was suspected in one case (6.2%), with FECR values ranging from 43% to 85.4%.
  • However, the macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin) remained effective on all farms.
  • Only cyathostome third stage larvae (L3) were seen in fecal cultures following treatment.

Significance and Implications

  • The research represents the first large-scale survey conducted in Italy examining anthelmintic resistance in equine cyathostomes.
  • The results clearly indicate the existence of multi-drug resistant equine cyathostomes in the central and southern regions of Italy.
  • This signals the need for a more comprehensive, geographically-expansive investigation of horse farms in all Italian regions.
  • Additionally, it underscores the urgency for the development and execution of a strategic plan among veterinarians, horse owners, and farm managers to impede the growth of these drug-resistant populations, and better manage these critical parasites.

Cite This Article

APA
Traversa D, Klei TR, Iorio R, Paoletti B, Lia RP, Otranto D, Sparagano OA, Giangaspero A. (2007). Occurrence of anthelmintic resistant equine cyathostome populations in central and southern Italy. Prev Vet Med, 82(3-4), 314-320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2007.07.006

Publication

Preventive veterinary medicine
ISSN: 0167-5877
NlmUniqueID: 8217463
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 82
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 314-320

Researcher Affiliations

Traversa, Donato
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100, Teramo, Italy. dtraversa@unite.it
Klei, Thomas R
    Iorio, Raffaella
      Paoletti, Barbara
        Lia, Riccardo P
          Otranto, Domenico
            Sparagano, Olivier A E
              Giangaspero, Annunziata

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
                • Drug Resistance
                • Feces / parasitology
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                • Horses
                • Italy / epidemiology
                • Nematoda / drug effects
                • Nematode Infections / epidemiology
                • Nematode Infections / parasitology
                • Nematode Infections / veterinary
                • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
                • Prevalence

                Citations

                This article has been cited 14 times.
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                  doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2016.01.001pubmed: 29988184google scholar: lookup
                7. 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.
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                8. 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.
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                11. Milillo P, Boeckh A, Cobb R, Otranto D, Lia RP, Perrucci S, di Regalbono AF, Beraldo P, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Demeler J, Bartolini R, Traversa D. Faecal Cyathostomin Egg Count distribution and efficacy of anthelmintics against cyathostomins in Italy: a matter of geography?. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S4.
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                12. 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.
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                13. 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.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-S2-S2pubmed: 19778463google scholar: lookup
                14. Lia RP, Traversa D, Iorio R, Otranto D, Klei TR, Ricci V, Giangaspero A. Preliminary molecular identification of drug resistant cyathostomes in Italy. Vet Res Commun 2008 Sep;32 Suppl 1:S211-3.
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