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Veterinary parasitology2016; 229; 90-92; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.10.002

Time required by different anthelmintics to reach expected efficacy levels in horses infected by strongyles.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the time required by different anthelmintic agents to reduce strongyle egg shedding in horses. Fifty horses were divided into five homogenous groups based on faecal egg counts (FECs). Treatment groups received either ivermectin; moxidectin; fenbendazole; piperazine; or no treatment (control group). Faecal examinations were performed 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48h after the anthelmintic treatment. After this period, faecal samples were taken every 24h over the next 12days and finally on alternate days (48-h intervals) for another 14days until the end of the experiment (28days post-treatment). The faecal egg count reduction (FECR) was calculated based on the post-treatment mean FECs in the controls and treated animals. Eggs were absent from the faecal examinations beginning at 72h and 4days, respectively, following treatment with moxidectin or ivermectin. Piperazine showed an FECR greater than 95% from 48h up to 9days post-treatment, with the highest FECR value recorded at 7days post-treatment (98.1%). However, the FECR was lower than 90% in the last two samplings (26 and 28days post-treatment). The febendazole group presented the lowest efficacy with FECR below 90% in all samplings. The faecal cultures showed that at the beginning of the trial, all of the groups presented with mixed infections and were predominantly composed of cyathostomins (92.8%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (5.6%) and Triodontophorus serratus (1.6%). Only cyathostomin larvae were identified following treatment with fenbendazole or piperazine. In conclusion, horses in the present study had a segment of the cyathostomin population with resistance to fenbendazole and piperazine. The strongyle population was susceptible to macrocyclic lactones, with cessation in egg shedding three and four days after treatment with moxidectin and ivermectin, respectively.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2016-10-04 PubMed ID: 27809986DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.10.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • 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.

This study investigates the time taken for various deworming drugs to effectively reduce the shedding of strongyle eggs in horses. It found that horses treated with moxidectin or ivermectin ceased egg shedding three and four days post-treatment, respectively, while fenbendazole and piperazine were less effective, with certain strongyle populations showing resistance to these treatments.

Research Design and Methodology

  • The experiment involved 50 horses divided into five equal groups, grouped by their faecal egg counts (FECs), which is a standard measure of parasite infestation.
  • The treatment groups received either ivermectin, moxidectin, fenbendazole, piperazine, or no treatment (control group).
  • After treatment, faecal examinations were conducted at regular intervals: at 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 hours post-treatment, then every 24 hours for the following 12 days, followed by every other day for 14 more days.
  • Egg reduction efficacy was measured against control group’s FECs and these figures were used to calculate the post-treatment faecal egg count reduction (FECR).

Key Findings

  • Moxidectin or ivermectin successfully eliminated egg shedding in horses within a period of three to four days post-treatment.
  • Piperazine exhibited a FECR of more than 95% from 48 hours up to 9 days post-treatment. However, the rates decreased to less than 90% towards the end of the experimental period (26 and 28 days post-treatment).
  • Fenbendazole had the least efficacy, with FECR consistently below 90% throughout the trial.
  • Initial fecal cultures revealed mixed strongyle infections. Post-treatment cultures showed the presence of only cyathostomin larvae after fenbendazole or piperazine treatment.
  • There was evidence of resistance to fenbendazole and piperazine in sections of the cyathostomin population.

Conclusion

  • The study demonstrated that moxidectin and ivermectin were the most effective anthelmintic agents in treating strongyle infestation in horses.
  • Resistance issues were detected with fenbendazole and piperazine treatments.

Cite This Article

APA
Saes IL, Vera JHS, Fachiolli DF, Yamada PH, Dellaqua JVT, Saes RL, Amarante AFT, Soutello RVG. (2016). Time required by different anthelmintics to reach expected efficacy levels in horses infected by strongyles. Vet Parasitol, 229, 90-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.10.002

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 229
Pages: 90-92
PII: S0304-4017(16)30400-9

Researcher Affiliations

Saes, Isabela de Lima
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil. Electronic address: isa.l.s@hotmail.com.
Vera, João H S
  • FCAA - Andradina School of Agrarian Sciences, Andradina, SP, Brazil.
Fachiolli, Daniele F
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil.
Yamada, Paulo H
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil.
Dellaqua, João V T
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil.
Saes, Rafaela de Lima
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil.
Amarante, Alessandro F T
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, CEP 18618-689, Brazil.
Soutello, Ricardo V G
  • UNESP - São Paulo State University, Dracena, SP, CEP 17900-000, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / pharmacokinetics
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Bousquet E, Bartz J, Heyer N, Nielsen MK, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Occurrence of Strongylid Nematode Parasites on Horse Farms in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, With High Seroprevalence of Strongylus vulgaris Infection. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:892920.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.892920pubmed: 35754549google scholar: lookup
  2. Elmeligy E, Abdelbaset A, Elsayed HK, Bayomi SA, Hafez A, Abu-Seida AM, El-Khabaz KAS, Hassan D, Ghandour RA, Khalphallah A. Oxidative stress in Strongylus spp. infected donkeys treated with piperazine citrate versus doramectin. Open Vet J 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):238-250.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i2.8pubmed: 34307081google scholar: lookup
  3. Wang T, Chen X, Yan X, Su Y, Gao W, Liu C, Wang W. Progress in serology and molecular biology of equine parasite diagnosis: sustainable control strategies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1663577.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1663577pubmed: 40979365google scholar: lookup
  4. Nielsen MK. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes: Current status and emerging trends. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022 Dec;20:76-88.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.10.005pubmed: 36342004google scholar: lookup
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