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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Resistance to pyrantel embonate and efficacy of fenbendazole...
Veterinary parasitology2018; 264; 69-73; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.11.003

Resistance to pyrantel embonate and efficacy of fenbendazole in Parascaris univalens on Swedish stud farms.

Abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the species of Parascaris present in foals in Sweden and to establish whether anthelmintic resistance to pyrantel and fenbendazole is present on Swedish stud farms. Ascarid eggs collected from different regions in Sweden were karyotyped and were all identified as Parascaris univalens, characterized by one chromosomal pair. Faecal egg count reduction tests were performed on a total of 142 foals on 9 farms between September 2016 and May 2017. Healthy foals with at least 150 eggs per gram faeces (EPG) were included in the study and treated with oral pastes of pyrantel embonate or fenbendazole according to manufacturer instructions. The efficacy of the drugs was calculated by a Bayesian model using the R package "eggCounts". In accordance with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, parasites were classified as resistant to pyrantel if the reduction in EPG was ≤ 85% and to fenbendazole if the observed efficacy was ≤ 90%. Four of eleven groups treated with pyrantel had an observed efficacy of ≤ 85%, and as many as 43% of the foals treated with pyrantel excreted eggs 10-16 days after treatment. In contrast, one of the six groups treated with fenbendazole had an observed efficacy of ≤ 90%, and only 6% of all foals were excreting eggs 10-16 days after treatment. Since resistance to ivermectin has earlier been shown to be widespread in Parascaris spp. in Sweden it is likely that multiresistant populations are present on Swedish stud farms. This is the first study showing the existence of pyrantel-resistant Parascaris spp. in Europe, and the first ever study where anthelmintic resistance has been shown in P. univalens.
Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-11-10 PubMed ID: 30503095DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.11.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study focuses on the resistance of the Parascaris univalens species to certain parasitic drugs, specifically pyrantel and fenbendazole, on Swedish stud farms. The research finds that there is evidence of such resistance emerging, posing a potential problem for equine health.

Objective and Methods

  • The research had two main goals: Identifying the species of Parascaris present among foals in Sweden and determining whether these species display resistance to two anthelmintic drugs, pyrantel and fenbendazole.
  • Ascarid eggs from various regions in Sweden were collected and identified as Parascaris univalens, a species with a single chromosomal pair.
  • The researchers conducted faecal egg count reduction tests on 142 foals from nine farms from September 2016 to May 2017, to evaluate the efficacy of the two drugs.
  • Foals healthy enough to have at least 150 eggs per gram faeces (EPG) were included in the study and given oral pastes of either pyrantel embonate or fenbendazole per manufacturer guidelines.
  • A Bayesian model, using the R package “eggCounts”, was employed to compute drug efficacies.

Findings

  • According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, parasites resistant to pyrantel would show a reduction in EPG of ≤ 85%, and to fenbendazole if efficacy was ≤ 90%.
  • Out of the eleven groups treated with pyrantel, four showed an efficacy of ≤ 85% indicating resistance.
  • Furthermore, up to 43% of the foals treated with pyrantel were still excreting eggs 10-16 days following treatment, again suggesting resistance.
  • Contrastingly, only one out of the six groups treated with fenbendazole showed an efficacy of ≤ 90%, indicating less resistance.
  • Moreover, only 6% of non-resisting foals were still excreting eggs 10-16 days after treatment with fenbendazole.
  • The research also points to the potential of multiresistant populations on Swedish stud farms due to prior findings of ivermectin resistance among Parascaris spp.

Significance

  • This study is the first of its kind to record the existence of pyrantel-resistant Parascaris spp. in Europe and the first to demonstrate anthelmintic resistance in P. univalens.

Implications

  • The rising resistance to these commonly used drugs implies a growing threat to equine health, especially since multi-resistant populations may already exist.
  • More studies are needed to ascertain the extent of this potential resistance and to develop new effective treatments.

Cite This Article

APA
Martin F, Höglund J, Bergström TF, Karlsson Lindsjö O, Tydén E. (2018). Resistance to pyrantel embonate and efficacy of fenbendazole in Parascaris univalens on Swedish stud farms. Vet Parasitol, 264, 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.11.003

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 264
Pages: 69-73

Researcher Affiliations

Martin, Frida
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Division of Parasitology, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Frida.martin@slu.se.
Höglund, Johan
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Division of Parasitology, Uppsala, Sweden.
Bergström, Tomas F
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Uppsala, Sweden.
Karlsson Lindsjö, Oskar
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Tydén, Eva
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Division of Parasitology, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antinematodal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antinematodal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ascaridida Infections / drug therapy
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary
  • Ascaridoidea / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance / drug effects
  • Fenbendazole / therapeutic use
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Pyrantel Pamoate / pharmacology
  • Pyrantel Pamoate / therapeutic use
  • Sweden
  • Treatment Outcome

Citations

This article has been cited 19 times.
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