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Veterinary parasitology2013; 197(3-4); 580-585; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.07.020

The association between Anoplocephala perfoliata and colic in Swedish horses–a case control study.

Abstract: A case-control study was performed to investigate the association between colic of all types in Swedish horses and infection with the equine tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata. Colic cases were defined by clinical signs consistent with the presence of abdominal pain, and the control horses had no signs of colic within the last year but attended a clinic for other reasons. Blood and fecal samples were collected by veterinarian from 67 horses with signs of colic and 67 control horses. The sera were analyzed using serodiagnostic assay anti-12/13 kDa IgG(T) ELISA. The fecal samples, 30 g from each horse, were analyzed with a modified sugar salt flotation method with a density of 1.280. A significant association was found between the presence of A. perfoliata eggs in feces and colic with a 16 times higher risk of colic if eggs had been observed in fecal samples. However, there was no significant association between colic and the median OD-values in the serological diagnosis, nor when recommended cut-offs were used. The study concludes that A. perfoliata is a risk factor for colic in Swedish horses and it suggests that the modified flotation method can be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying horses at risk.
Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Publication Date: 2013-07-22 PubMed ID: 23993633DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.07.020Google 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.

The research article discusses a study performed to understand the relationship between colic, a type of abdominal pain in horses, and infection by the equine tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata, in Sweden. Results indicate that a significant association exists between the presence of A. perfoliata eggs in horse feces and colic.

Research Objective

  • The primary purpose of this case-control study was to investigate any possible association between all types of colic symptoms in Swedish horses and an infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata, or equine tapeworm. The researchers aimed to use this information to better identify and treat instances of colic in horses.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted on 67 horses showing signs of colic and 67 control horses that had no signs of colic but were at a clinic for other reasons. The distinction between the two was primarily based on clinical signs consistent with the presence of abdominal pain.
  • Both blood and fecal samples were collected from each horse by a veterinarian. The blood samples were analyzed using an anti-12/13 kDa IgG(T) ELISA serodiagnostic assay, while the fecal samples were studied through a modified sugar salt flotation method.

Findings

  • Results demonstrated a significant correlation between the presence of A. perfoliata eggs in feces and colic symptoms. Horses that showed evidence of tapeworm eggs in their fecal samples were 16 times more likely to have colic.
  • The study, however, could not find any significant connections between the colic incidents and the median OD-values during the serological diagnosis. This was also the case when recommended cut-offs were used.
  • It was concluded that the equine tapeworm, A. perfoliata, is a risk factor for colic in Swedish horses. It was also suggested that the modified flotation method may be a suitable diagnostic tool to identify horses at risk for this condition.

    • Cite This Article

    APA
    Back H, Nyman A, Osterman Lind E. (2013). The association between Anoplocephala perfoliata and colic in Swedish horses–a case control study. Vet Parasitol, 197(3-4), 580-585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.07.020

    Publication

    Veterinary parasitology
    ISSN: 1873-2550
    NlmUniqueID: 7602745
    Country: Netherlands
    Language: English
    Volume: 197
    Issue: 3-4
    Pages: 580-585

    Researcher Affiliations

    Back, H
    • Department of Virology, Immunology and Parasitology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: helena.back@sva.se.
    Nyman, A
      Osterman Lind, E

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Cestoda / classification
        • Cestode Infections / complications
        • Cestode Infections / epidemiology
        • Cestode Infections / parasitology
        • Cestode Infections / veterinary
        • Colic / etiology
        • Colic / veterinary
        • Feces / parasitology
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horse Diseases / parasitology
        • Horses
        • Sweden / epidemiology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 14 times.
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