Preventative Care: Equine Parasites

Question 1

what is praziquantel effective against?

Answer 1

Anoplocephala perfoliata (tapeworms)

Question 2

which parasites are of concern now in horses?

Answer 2

cyathostomins (small strongyles)
tapeworms

Question 3

why do adult horses require individualized attention to their parasite control needs?

Answer 3

vary greatly in their innate susceptibility to infection and level of strongyle egg shedding

Question 4

what percentage of adult horses are usually shedding 80% of the eggs?

Answer 4

15-30%

Question 5

how often should all adult horses be dewormed?

Answer 5

twice yearly

Question 6

how often should horses younger than 3 years be dewormed?

Answer 6

at least 4 times a year

Question 7

what are the main treatments for ascarids in young horses?

Answer 7

pyrantel
benzimidazoles

Question 8

why do ascarids cause respiratory disease?

Answer 8

ascarid larval migration

Question 9

what should you do if you are first deworming a 9-month-old weanling?

Answer 9

administer slow kill dewormer first
then give full dose

Question 10

what can you use to deworm for cyathostomes in adult horses?

Answer 10

moxidectin
fenbendazole 5 days

Question 11

what is the most common parasitic intestinal disease in horses?

Answer 11

cyathostomes (small strongyles)

Question 12

what drug overdosage can cause serious adverse reactions in foals and miniature horses?

Answer 12

moxidectin (quest)

Question 13

what is moxidectin (quest) useful for?

Answer 13

wide spectrum
encysted cyathostomes
better penetration into intestinal mucosa

Question 14

what is the chief complaint with Strongylus vulgaris in adult horses?

Answer 14

moderate or severe colic
never dewormed

Question 15

where do Strongylus equinus migrate?

Answer 15

liver
pancreas

Question 16

where do Strongylus vulgaris larvae migrate?

Answer 16

arteries

Question 17

what is the chief complaint with tapeworms in adult horses?

Answer 17

moderate or severe colic

Question 18

what is the clue with lungworms in adult horses?

Answer 18

donkey contact

Question 19

what are the main pathogenic mechanisms of lungworms in adult horses?

Answer 19

adult in lung: Dictyocaulus arnfeldi
associated inflammation

Question 20

how can you diagnose Dictyocaulus arnfeldi?

Answer 20

baermann fecal flotation
microscopic exam: fully formed larvae within egg
TTA or BAL eosinophilic inflammation

Question 21

how can summer sores in adult horses be treated?

Answer 21

moxidectin
manage sores

Question 22

what is the chief complaint with pinworms in adult horses?

Answer 22

rubbing tail and hindquarters

Question 23

how can you treat pinworms in adult horses?

Answer 23

pyrantel

Question 24

how do the avermectins (zimectrin and quest) work?

Answer 24

paralytic: increase binding of GABA to glutamate-gated chloride channels
rapid influx chloride

Question 25

what is pyrantel effective against?

Answer 25

large and small strongyles parascaris Oxyuris Srongyloides anoplocephala double dose

Question 26

what are thee chief complaints for ascarids in young horses?

Answer 26

unthrifty, rounded abdomen, poor haircoat nasal discharge or cough

Question 27

how can you diagnose Parascaris equorum?

Answer 27

fecal flotation: large circular thick-walled eggs

Question 28

what can you use for Parascaris equorum?

Answer 28

pyrantel: strongid T fenbendazole: panacur not ivermectin

Question 29

what can you use for slow-kill in a young horse (first deworming)?

Answer 29

fenbendazole half dose, 72 hours apart

Question 30

what are the pathogenic mechanisms of cyathostomes in adult horses?

Answer 30

larvae encyst in colon wall inflammation as excyst

Question 31

is there a seasonal occurence of cyathostomes?

Answer 31

yes: as move out of cysts

Question 32

how can cyathostomes be diagnosed?

Answer 32

fecal flotation: oval egg with morula

Question 33

what are the main pathogenic mechanisms with Strongylus vulgaris in adult horses?

Answer 33

adult parasite within cranial mesenteric artery intestinal infarcts, emboli

Question 34

what are the options with Strongylus vulgaris colic?

Answer 34

resection euthanasia

Question 35

which drugs work against Strongylus vulgaris?

Answer 35

iveremctin (zimectrin) or moxidectin (quest) pyrantel pamoate (strongid T) fenbendazole (panacur)

Question 36

what are the main pathogenic mechanisms of tapeworms in adult horses?

Answer 36

adult in distal ileum: Anoplocephala perfiolata inflammation and hypertrophy wall ileal impaction

Question 37

how can you diagnose lungworms in adult horses?

Answer 37

eosinophilic inflammation in TTA or BAL baermann fecal flotation: oval egg with larva

Question 38

how can you treat lungworms in adult horses?

Answer 38

avermectins: ivermectin or moxidectin

Question 39

what causes summer sores?

Answer 39

Habronema spp usually Onchocerca cervicalis masses

Question 40

what can you treat pinworms (Oxyuris equi) with?

Answer 40

pyrantel fenbendazole not ivermectin