Equine gastro praasites treatments

Question 1

what is the principle behinde the treatment for gastro parasites in horses, why?

Answer 1

treat animals with clinical signs of disease only - due to increasing resistance

Question 2

what is the treatment for larval cyathostominosis?

Answer 2

moxidectin

Question 3

what is the treatement for colic due to high parascaris burden?

Answer 3

pyrantel

Question 4

what is the treatement for recurrect colic and high ELISA for anaplocephala?

Answer 4

praziquantel or double the standard dose of pyrantel

Question 5

what are the control stratergies for the prevention of larval cyathastominosis?

Answer 5

strategic use of anthelmintics

Pasture management
* Appropriate stocking
* Faecal collection - Minimum of twice weekly
* Dung heaps separate from grazing area
* Pasture rotation
◦ Best in hot dry condition as larvae overwinter in mild winters
◦ due to Uk weather may be best to rest pasture during hot dry summer - (however not ideal for mud fever)
* Grazing with ruminants

Question 6

what is refugia? what are the principles behind creating refugia?

Answer 6

refugia being those parasites within a population that are not exposed to selection pressure by AH treatment
* Treat those with high parasite burdens (if only we knew)
* Minimize pasture contamination
* Create a large percentage of parasites not exposed to anthelmintics

Question 7

how can a yard create refugia?

Answer 7

• Must be a yard wide approach
• Treat if faecal WEC > 250epg (Based on testing every 8-12 weeks throughout the grazing season) with ivermectin or pyrantel
• Perform a faecal egg count reduction test after 14 days to assess efficacy of treatment
• Treat new arrivals at yard with anthelmintics and hold away from turn out for a minimum of 3 days (or ideally until FWEC reduction test is assessed )
• For young horses WEC are required more frequently - as more likely to have a higher parasite burden

Question 8

There are risk factor categories for how likely a horse is to be infected with parasites within the UK, there are three categories (low, moderate, high). most horses fall into the moderate or high risk category in the UK.
what are the principles for treating horses for?
low risk cyathastomins?
moderate/high risk cyathostomins?
tapeworm?
other GI parasites?

Answer 8

cyathastomins
Low risk - No Autumn treatment
Moderate/ high risk - Moxidectin (or ivermectin) in Autumn

Tapeworm ELISA in spring and Autumn and treat if high Ab titre with pyrantel/praziquantel

Other GI parasites should be controlled with the measures instigated for control of small cyathastomins