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Veterinary parasitology2007; 151(2-4); 337-343; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.014

Parascaris equorum in foals and in their environment on a Swedish stud farm, with notes on treatment failure of ivermectin.

Abstract: Environmental contamination and the egg excretion pattern of the ascarid Parascaris equorum (Nematoda) was investigated in relation to anthelmintic treatment on a Swedish stud farm. Faecal samples from 15 foals, dewormed every 8th-week with a paste formulation of ivermectin at the standard dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight, were collected at five sampling occasions between August and November 2006. In addition, soil samples were obtained from four paddocks used by these foals in November 2006. The number of eggs per gram (epg) was counted in both faeces and soil. Egg excretion started when the foals were 3-4 months, and reached the highest levels when they were approximately 5-month-old, and was then followed by a decline. Egg excretion seemed to be unaffected by ivermectin despite these foals were dewormed at regular intervals. In four out of five foals examined 10 days after treatment, epg actually increased. In contrast, when either fenbendazol or pyrantel embonate were used instead of ivermectin, treatments were effective. The number of eggs in soil was significantly higher in the permanent paddock compared to in the temporarily used soil paddock and in the summer paddocks.
Publication Date: 2007-11-01 PubMed ID: 18077096DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.014Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research article examines the presence of ascarid Parascaris equorum (Nematoda) in foals and their environment on a Swedish stud farm, particularly considering the ascarid’s egg excretion pattern and the effectiveness of the common anthelmintic treatment, ivermectin.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • This study intended to determine the level of environmental contamination caused by the ascarid Parascaris equorum and its egg excretion pattern relative to anthelmintic treatment in a Swedish stud farm. Heavy infestations of ascarids can be a significant health risk to foals.
  • Over the course of several months, researchers collected faecal samples from 15 foals. These foals were routinely dewormed every eight weeks with an ivermectin-based paste at a standard dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight.
  • Soil samples were also collected from four paddocks frequented by the foals. The research team then counted the number of Parascaris equorum eggs per gram in both the faecal and soil samples.

Research Findings

  • The researchers found that Parascaris equorum egg excretion in foals began when they were between 3 and 4 months old. The highest egg excretion levels occurred when the foals were around 5 months old, after which there was a marked decline.
  • Interestingly, regular deworming with ivermectin seemed to have no significant effect on egg excretion rates. Examples included four out of five foals examined 10 days after treatment, where the egg excretion rate actually increased.
  • When either fenbendazole or pyrantel embonate were used instead of ivermectin, the treatments were found to be more effective, highlighting the potential treatment failure of ivermectin.
  • Lastly, environmental contamination analysis showed a significantly higher number of eggs in the soil from the permanent paddock when compared to temporary and summer paddocks, indicating a potential risk of infection from environment

Implications of Research

  • The findings suggest the possible ineffectiveness of ivermectin as a treatment for Parascaris equorum in foals, indicating the need for further research or considering alternative treatments such as fenbendazole or pyrantel embonate.
  • This study highlights the importance of monitoring and managing the environment in equine farms to prevent high levels of ascarid infection, particularly in areas where foals are kept.
  • The research results provide useful insights for veterinarians, equine farm managers, and animal health researchers regarding parasitic control strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Lindgren K, Ljungvall O, Nilsson O, Ljungström BL, Lindahl C, Höglund J. (2007). Parascaris equorum in foals and in their environment on a Swedish stud farm, with notes on treatment failure of ivermectin. Vet Parasitol, 151(2-4), 337-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.014

Publication

ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 151
Issue: 2-4
Pages: 337-343

Researcher Affiliations

Lindgren, K
  • Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (JTI), P.O. Box 7033, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Ljungvall, O
    Nilsson, O
      Ljungström, B-L
        Lindahl, C
          Höglund, J

            MeSH Terms

            • Administration, Oral
            • Animals
            • Antinematodal Agents / pharmacology
            • Antiparasitic Agents / standards
            • Antiparasitic Agents / therapeutic use
            • Ascaridida Infections / drug therapy
            • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary
            • Ascaridoidea / drug effects
            • Ascaridoidea / isolation & purification
            • Feces / parasitology
            • Female
            • Fenbendazole / pharmacology
            • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
            • Horse Diseases / parasitology
            • Horses
            • Ivermectin / standards
            • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
            • Larva
            • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
            • Pyrantel / pharmacology
            • Soil / parasitology
            • Sweden
            • Time Factors
            • Treatment Failure

            Citations

            This article has been cited 12 times.
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              doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07765-4pubmed: 36627515google scholar: lookup
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              doi: 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-ypubmed: 36333754google scholar: lookup
            4. Cain JL, Nielsen MK. The equine ascarids: resuscitating historic model organisms for modern purposes. Parasitol Res 2022 Oct;121(10):2775-2791.
              doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07627-zpubmed: 35986167google scholar: lookup
            5. Dube F, Hinas A, Roy S, Martin F, Åbrink M, Svärd S, Tydén E. Ivermectin-induced gene expression changes in adult Parascaris univalens and Caenorhabditis elegans: a comparative approach to study anthelminthic metabolism and resistance in vitro. Parasit Vectors 2022 May 5;15(1):158.
              doi: 10.1186/s13071-022-05260-4pubmed: 35513885google scholar: lookup
            6. Martin F, Halvarsson P, Delhomme N, Höglund J, Tydén E. Exploring the β-tubulin gene family in a benzimidazole-resistant Parascaris univalens population. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021 Dec;17:84-91.
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            7. Kuhn T, Zizka VMA, Münster J, Klapper R, Mattiucci S, Kochmann J, Klimpel S. Lighten up the dark: metazoan parasites as indicators for the ecology of Antarctic crocodile icefish (Channichthyidae) from the north-west Antarctic Peninsula. PeerJ 2018;6:e4638.
              doi: 10.7717/peerj.4638pubmed: 29770270google scholar: lookup
            8. Tydén E, Dahlberg J, Karlberg O, Höglund J. Deep amplicon sequencing of preselected isolates of Parascaris equorum in β-tubulin codons associated with benzimidazole resistance in other nematodes. Parasit Vectors 2014 Aug 29;7:410.
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            9. Idika IK, Okonkwo EA, Onah DN, Ezeh IO, Iheagwam CN, Nwosu CO. Efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the sub-humid savanna zone of southeastern Nigeria. Parasitol Res 2012 Oct;111(4):1683-7.
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              doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-45pubmed: 19930608google scholar: lookup
            11. Nielsen MK. Restrictions of anthelmintic usage: perspectives and potential consequences. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S7.
              doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-S2-S7pubmed: 19778468google scholar: lookup
            12. Hébert L, Cauchard J, Doligez P, Quitard L, Laugier C, Petry S. Viability of Rhodococcus equi and Parascaris equorum eggs exposed to high temperatures. Curr Microbiol 2010 Jan;60(1):38-41.
              doi: 10.1007/s00284-009-9497-5pubmed: 19727941google scholar: lookup