Risk based endoparasite control

Question 1

What are the main elements of risk assessment in endoparasite control

Answer 1

Environmental risk - risk of animal being infected with parasite
Animal risk - risk of parasite causing clinical signs
Zoonotic (greater concern cats and dogs)

Question 2

What weather factors affect the environmental risk of parasites in cattle and sheep?

Answer 2

Contamination affected by temp (speed of generation of infective L3) and pasture history (eggs)
Infectivity affected by moisture (how readily can infective L3 move away from faeces

Question 3

How can environmental risk of parasites be tested?

Answer 3

Time delay (~3 week delay)
Worm egg counts don’t correlate directly with actual parasite burden
Daily liveweight gain (DLWG)

Question 4

Which farm animals are at a higher risk to parasites?

Answer 4

First season grazing cattle and sheep are highest risk.
Ewes have a reduction in immunity around lambing (pasture contamination).
Animals suffering from other diseases or poor nutrition are also higher risk than healthy animals.

Question 5

How is environmental endoparasite risk assessed in horses?

Answer 5

stocking density
poo picking/pasture rotation/quarantine procedures

Question 6

How is endoparasite testing done in horses?

Answer 6

Worm egg counts / tapeworm antibodies

Question 7

How is animal risk of endoparasites assessed in horses?

Answer 7

Clinical history and age (<5y or >20y)

Question 8

How is environmental risk of endoparasites assessed in small animals?

Answer 8

Indoor/outdoor cats
Walking areas
Travel
Regional variation

Question 9

What factors affect animal risk of endoparasites in small animals?

Answer 9

Age
Health

Question 10

How is endoparasite risk managed in farm animals?

Answer 10

Targeted selective treatment - 80% of the parasites in 20% of the population
Diagnostics / parasite forecasts
Grazing management – high-risk animals on low-risk pastures

Question 11

How is endoparasite risk managed in horses?

Answer 11

Targeted selective treatment
Diagnostics
Grazing management – poo picking/stocking density

Question 12

How is endoparasite risk managed in small animals?

Answer 12

Detailed history to assess risk +/- testing
Treatment of animals with access to outdoors at least every 3 months

Question 13

Describe the relative risk of pastures throughout the seasons

Answer 13

Question 14

Describe the relative risk of animals throughout the seasons

Answer 14