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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Strongyle infections and parasitic control strategies in Ger...
BMC veterinary research2014; 10; 262; doi: 10.1186/s12917-014-0262-z

Strongyle infections and parasitic control strategies in German horses – a risk assessment.

Abstract: As a consequence of the increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomes, new strategies for equine parasite control are being implemented. To assess the potential risks of these, the occurrence of strongyles was evaluated in a group of 1887 horses. The distribution of fecal egg counts (FECs), the frequency of anthelmintic drug use, and the deworming intervals were also analyzed. Between June 2012 and May 2013, 1887 fecal samples from either selectively or strategically dewormed horses were collected at 195 horse farms all over Germany and analyzed quantitatively with a modified McMaster technique. All samples with FEC ≥20 eggs per gram (EPG) were subjected to coproculture to generate third-stage larvae (LIII) for species differentiation. Results: Egg counts were below the limit of detection (20 EPG) in 1046 (55.4%) samples and above it in 841 (44.6%) samples. Strongylus vulgaris larvae were identified in two of the 841 positive samples. Infections with cyathostomes were found on every farm. The most frequently applied anthelmintic was ivermectin (788/50.8%), followed by pyrantel (336/21.6%). The mean time since last treatment was 6.3 months. High-egg-shedding (>500 EPG) strategically dewormed horses (183/1357) were treated, on average, three times/year. The planned treatment date was already exceeded by 72.5% of the high egg-shedders and by 58.1% of the moderate (200-500 EPG) and low egg-shedders (20-199 EPG). Conclusions: S. vulgaris seems to be rare in Germany and no difference in its frequency has yet been found between selectively treated horses and horses receiving treatment in strategic intervals. However, inconsistent parasite control has been observed. Therefore, to minimize the risks for disease, consistent and efficient parasite control should be implemented.
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Publication Date: 2014-11-12 PubMed ID: 25387542PubMed Central: PMC4232665DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0262-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study looked into the occurrence of strongyle infections in 1887 horses in Germany and assessed the associated risks of implementing new control strategies in light of growing resistance to anthelmintic, a common deworming drug. The study was conducted from June 2012 to May 2013 and the researchers examined factors like frequency of drug use and deworming intervals.

Methodology

  • The study examined fecal samples from 1887 horses that were either strategically or selectively dewormed. 195 horse farms across Germany provided these samples.
  • A technique known as the modified McMaster method was used for analyzing the fecal samples quantitatively. Any samples that contained FEC (Fecal Egg Counts) equal to or more than 20 eggs per gram were then subjected to a coproculture technique which allowed for the generation of third-stage larvae. These were then used to differentiate between species.

Research Findings

  • Out of all the tested samples, 55.4% had egg counts below the limit of detection (20 EPG), and 44.6% exceeded this limit.
  • Two out of the 841 positive samples had identified Strongylus vulgaris larvae. Cyathostome infections were found on every sampled farm.
  • The most frequently used anthelmintic drug was ivermectin, which accounted for 50.8% of all treatments, followed by pyrantel at 21.6%.
  • The researchers noted that the average time since horses’ last treatment was 6.3 months.
  • They also found that strategically dewormed horses with high egg-shedding (>500 EPG) were treated, on average, three times a year.
  • The planned treatment date was exceeded by 72.5% of the high egg shedders and 58.1% of the moderate and low egg shedders (20-199 EPG and 200-500 EPG respectively).

Conclusions

  • Strongylus vulgaris appears to be infrequent in Germany and no significant difference regarding its occurrence was observed between selectively treated horses and those receiving treatment in strategic intervals.
  • However, observations were made regarding inconsistent parasite control methods.
  • To mitigate the risks of disease, the researchers advised implementing consistent and efficient parasite control methods.

Cite This Article

APA
Schneider S, Pfister K, Becher AM, Scheuerle MC. (2014). Strongyle infections and parasitic control strategies in German horses – a risk assessment. BMC Vet Res, 10, 262. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-014-0262-z

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 262
PII: 262

Researcher Affiliations

Schneider, Stephanie
  • Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany. Stephanie_Schneider82@yahoo.de.
Pfister, Kurt
  • Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany. kurt.pfister@tropa.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de.
Becher, Anne M
  • Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany. annebecher@gmx.de.
Scheuerle, Miriam C
  • Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany. Miriam.Scheuerle@tropa.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Schedule / veterinary
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Ivermectin / administration & dosage
  • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Pyrantel / administration & dosage
  • Pyrantel / therapeutic use
  • Risk Assessment
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control
  • Strongylus / drug effects

References

This article includes 68 references

Citations

This article has been cited 14 times.
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