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Veterinary parasitology2005; 135(1); 47-55; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.10.020

Prescription-only anthelmintics–a questionnaire survey of strategies for surveillance and control of equine strongyles in Denmark.

Abstract: In 1999, legislation in Denmark made anthelmintic drugs available only by prescription, and prohibited their use for routine, prophylactic treatment. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2004 to determine current strategies for surveillance and control of equine strongyles used in Danish equine veterinary practices. Eighty-seven of 170 (51.2%) registered equine veterinary practices responded. Ninety seven percent of the respondents used faecal egg counts for diagnosis and surveillance, and 41% used larval cultures. Logistic regression revealed that the use of larval cultures was positively correlated with numbers of employees (P = 0.013) and the proportion of equine caseload in the practice (P < 0.000). Performing faecal egg counts and treating horses was most frequent during spring, summer and early autumn. Veterinary practices made treatment decisions based on cut-off values ranging from 20 to 500 eggs per gram (EPG) faeces. Ages of horses, clinical suspicions of parasitic disease, or requests by the owners were the most important factors in the strategies for faecal sampling. Less commonly, sampling strategies included all horses on the premises and random sampling. Ninety five percent of the respondents reported treating certain groups of horses without prior faecal analysis, including horses with clinical signs of parasitic disease (77%), foals (84%), horses less than 3 years of age (52%), and pregnant mares (51%). The respondents regarded the cyathostomin group as the most prevalent cause of parasitic disease and ill-thrift, followed by large strongyles and Parascaris equorum. Sixty seven percent rotated regularly between drugs, while 11% performed routine screening for anthelmintic resistance. Results of this survey suggest that limiting equine anthelmintics to prescription-only availability has increased the level of strongyle surveillance. Veterinary practitioners play a central role in equine parasite management with indications of a lowered intensity of treatment. However, screening for anthelmintic resistance remains uncommon.
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Publication Date: 2005-11-23 PubMed ID: 16309841DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.10.020Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

The research article surveys strategies used for the surveillance and control of equine strongyles in Danish veterinary practices, following the 1999 legislation in Denmark that restricted anthelmintic drugs to prescription-only. The findings suggest that heightened surveillance of strongyles has occurred, but routine screening for anthelmintics resistance remains uncommon.

Background and Method

  • The authors initiated this research following the legislation in Denmark in 1999 that limited the distribution of anthelmintic drugs to prescription-only and prevented their use for regular, preventive treatment.
  • To understand how this legislation affected strategies for monitoring and controlling equine strongyles, the researchers conducted a questionnaire survey in 2004 in Danish veterinary practices.
  • 170 registered equine veterinary practices took part in the survey, with a response rate of 51.2% (87 practices).

Findings

  • Most participants (97%) used faecal egg counts for diagnosis and surveillance, and a significant proportion (41%) utilized larval cultures.
  • The use of larval cultures was directly associated with the number of employees in the practice and the percentage of equine caseload in the practice.
  • Treatment was most commonly performed during spring, summer, and early autumn, aligned with faecal egg count procedures.
  • Practices decided on treatment based on various cut-off values ranging from 20 to 500 eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces.
  • Important factors involved in the strategies for faecal sampling included ages of horses, clinical suspicions of parasitic disease, and client requests. Other less common strategies included random sampling and sampling all horses on the premises.
  • Most respondents (95%) reported sometimes treating certain groups of horses without prior faecal examination, for example horses with clinical signs of parasitic disease (77% of respondents), foals (84%), horses less than 3 years old (52%), and pregnant mares (51%).

Interpretations and Implications

  • The respondents identified the cyathostomin group as the prevalent cause of parasitic infections, followed by large strongyles and Parascaris equorum.
  • About 67% of the practices routinely alternated between drugs, while only 11% performed regular screening for anthelmintic resistance.
  • Results from the survey suggest that equine anthelmintic restriction to prescription-only availability has led to an increase in the surveillance level of strongyles.
  • Despite an apparent reduction in treatment intensity, the routine screening for anthelmintic resistance remains uncommon.

Cite This Article

APA
Nielsen MK, Monrad J, Olsen SN. (2005). Prescription-only anthelmintics–a questionnaire survey of strategies for surveillance and control of equine strongyles in Denmark. Vet Parasitol, 135(1), 47-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.10.020

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 135
Issue: 1
Pages: 47-55

Researcher Affiliations

Nielsen, M K
  • Department of Large Animal Sciences, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 48 Dyrlaegevej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C., Denmark. mkn@kvl.dk
Monrad, J
    Olsen, S N

      MeSH Terms

      • Age Factors
      • Animals
      • Anthelmintics / pharmacology
      • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
      • Denmark
      • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
      • Drug Prescriptions / veterinary
      • Drug Resistance
      • Feces / parasitology
      • Female
      • Horses
      • Legislation, Veterinary
      • Logistic Models
      • Male
      • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
      • Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary
      • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
      • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control
      • Strongyloidea / drug effects
      • Surveys and Questionnaires
      • Treatment Outcome
      • Veterinary Drugs

      Citations

      This article has been cited 18 times.
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      18. 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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