Equine parasitology Flashcards
Signs of Parasitism
- weight loss
- dull, rough hair coat
- potbelly
- decreased stamina or lethargy
- coughing
- diarrhea
- colic
- tail rubbing
Ascarid ( Roundworm) –> Parascaris equorum
- ( foals/young) - yellowish white nematode that may pass in feces
- ( adults ) - develop immunity
- primarily affects horses less than 2 years of age
Parascaris Life cycle
Young horse consumes grass/feed/ from surfaces/ water contaminated with eggs —>
adult females pass egos into horse feces —>
eggs spend 10 days in environment before they are capable of infecting a new host —>
development of egg to second stage larvae requires the correct temperature —> once at this stage, can persist for 5- 10 years
eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into SI–> migrate to liver –> heart –> lungs –> coughed up –> swallowed –> SI ( mature to egg producing adults )
( takes about 3 months)
Clinical symptoms
Parascaris
- physical damage (inflammation, scarring of liver and lung tissue )
- mild digestive upset , lower feed absorption , severe colic, intestinal blockage or intestinal rupture
**Intestinal Blockage or intestinal rupture –> more likely following the use of an effective anthelmintic or dewormer
CS - unthrifty, potbelly, rough hair coat, slow growth
+/- nasal d/c with cough as a result of larvae migration
treatment of Parascaris equorum
- Benzimidazole ( less resistant and non paralytic)
- Pyrantel products are effective, but should be used with caution due to their paralytic MOA–> can cause an intestinal impaction
Gasterophilus intestinalis (bot fly)
- treatment: Ivermectin in late FALL or early winter
** typical treat twice ( one month after the first bot is seen on hair + again at the end of the season )
CS - mild gastritis , sometimes ulceration
secondary to attachment to NON-GLANDULAR portion of the stomach
