A questionnaire study of equine gastrointestinal parasite control in Scotland.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Anthelmintic resistance in equine gastrointestinal nematodes is a threat to equine health and welfare. Detailed knowledge of anthelmintic use and parasite control methods is a prerequisite to identification of potential risk factors for resistance. OBJECTIVES: To identify parasite control practices employed by equine owners in Scotland and investigate management factors associated with anthelmintic resistance. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaire study of equine parasite control in Scotland. METHODS: Questionnaires were available electronically, distributed at a conference and mailed to clients. Key areas explored included general background, grazing management, anthelmintic treatment practices and use of diagnostic tests. RESULTS: A total of 193 responses detailing information on parasite control programmes of 993 equids were analysed. Moxidectin (MOX) and ivermectin or related combination products were the most commonly administered anthelmintics in the preceding 12 months. Treatments licensed for use against cyathostomin encysted larvae and tapeworms were administered by 80% and 90% of respondents, respectively. This was often achieved through indiscriminate use of MOX and MOX-praziquantel products. Faecal egg count (FEC) analysis had been performed on 62% of yards and regular use of FECs reduced annual anthelmintic treatment frequency. Veterinarians had the greatest influence on control practices. While 40% of respondents believed that they practised targeted dosing, this was not associated with delaying treatment beyond the egg reappearance period of the anthelmintic used. CONCLUSIONS: Responses indicated increasing veterinary involvement and use of FECs. The majority of respondents administered anthelmintics licensed against cyathostomin encysted larvae and tapeworms. However, responses suggested that owners did not understand the definition of 'targeted' dosing regimens. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The high frequency of MOX use represents a potential risk factor for macrocyclic lactone resistance. As veterinarians were the most influential factor in anthelmintic choice, awareness of macrocyclic lactone resistance and potential risk factors for its development and spread should be incorporated into client advice.

Helminth egg excretion with regard to age, gender and management practices on UK Thoroughbred studs.

Few studies have described the combined effect of age, gender, management and control programmes on helminth prevalence and egg shedding in grazing equines. Here, fecal samples collected from 1221 Thoroughbred horses, residing at 22 studs in the UK, were analysed. The distribution of strongyle eggs amongst individuals in relation to age, gender and management practices was investigated. Fecal worm egg counts (FWECs), described as the number of eggs per gramme (epg) of feces, were determined using a modification of the salt flotation method. The FWEC prevalence (mean%) of strongyles, Parascaris equorum, tapeworm spp. and Strongyloides westeri was 56, 9, 4 and 8%, respectively. Strongyle, P. equorum, tapeworm spp. and S. westeri infections were detected on 22 (100%), 11 (50%), 9 (41%) and 8 (36%) of studs, respectively. Within all age and gender categories, strongyle FWECs were highly over-dispersed (arithmetic mean = 95 epg, aggregation parameter k=0·111) amongst horses. Animal age, last anthelmintic type administered and management practices (for example, group rotation on grazing) most strongly influenced strongyle prevalence and level of egg shedding (P < 0·05). Overall, 11% of equines (range: 234-2565 epg) were responsible for excreting 80% of the strongyle eggs detected on FWEC analysis. The results confirm that the judicious application of targeted treatments has potential to control equine strongyle populations by protecting individual horses from high burdens, whilst promoting refugia for anthelmintic susceptible genotypes.

A questionnaire study on parasite control practices on UK breeding Thoroughbred studs.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Improved education of veterinarians and equine owners/managers is essential in implementing parasite control strategies that are less reliant on chemicals. METHODS: This questionnaire study, conducted on 61 UK Thoroughbred (TB) establishments during 2009 and 2010, was designed to obtain an understanding of current helminth control practices on studs. To our knowledge, this is the first occasion that statements obtained from TB studs via questionnaire have been supported by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Despite many respondents indicating high levels of concern regarding anthelmintic resistance, 56% of these establishments that received visiting equines co-grazed these animals with permanent stock and <74% administered anthelmintics prior to integration. In the 12 months preceding the study, most respondents administered frequent macrocyclic lactone (ML) treatments, with none appearing to leave any animals in groups untreated at each administration. Indiscriminate whole group treatments with MLs and movement of animals to 'clean grazing' post treatment (reported by >25% of respondents), indicates that many stud owners/managers are not aware of the strong risk factors for the development of anthelmintic resistance. Few studs had conducted faecal egg count (FEC) analysis in the past and only 22% indicated that they considered this form of analysis beneficial in determining anthelmintic choice. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The challenge now is to convince stud owners/managers to deviate from their current practices to control strategies that are more likely to preserve anthelmintic efficacy. Veterinarians need to get more involved in implementing these control strategies, with better emphasis placed on the role of diagnostic tests in facilitating targeted treatments and in investigating anthelmintic sensitivity in the associated nematode populations.

Temporal studies on Fasciola hepatica in Galba truncatula in the west of Ireland.

The population dynamics and prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in Galba truncatula were investigated on the Teagasc hill sheep farm in Country Mayo, Ireland from August 2006 until March 2008. Galba truncatula (n=974) were collected at fortnightly intervals in 4 snail habitats on the farm, their relative density and mean monthly rainfall and temperature were recorded. Snail abundance was associated with rainfall and temperature. G. truncatula abundance was generally low during winter 2006/2007 (December 2006-February 2007), mid spring and summer 2007 (April-July) and late autumn and winter 2007/2008 (October 2007-February 2008). Overall, two peaks in G. truncatula abundance were evident during the study period, an early spring (March) and late summer/autumn (late August-October) peak. Seasonal differences were observed in the prevalence of F. hepatica in G. truncatula, the greatest prevalence was evident in 2007 during the summer (25%) and autumn (16%). Two seasonal transmission peaks, as evident by the presence of mature infections in snails, one in summer/autumn and the other in late winter/early spring. Not unsurprising, cercariae (28%) and rediae (29%) were the predominant developmental stages observed in mature and pre-adult snails respectively. Worthy of note in this study, cercariae were also evident in pre-adult snails. The present study highlights the influence of milder temperatures and wetter conditions on both snail and fluke development. If the trend in mild and wet weather conditions continues, there is the potential for an increase in the number of G. truncatula habitats and ultimately the prevalence of fasciolosis in grazing livestock in Ireland.

Evidence of Fasciola hepatica infection in Radix peregra and a mollusc of the family Succineidae in Ireland.

Worldwide molluscs of the genera Lymnaea, Pseudosuccinea, Galba and Stagnicola act as intermediate hosts of the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Galba truncatula is the only recorded intermediate host of F. hepatica within Ireland and is the principle intermediate host within Europe. To investigate the transmission of liver fluke on the Teagasc hill sheep farm, Co. Mayo, Ireland, snail species other than G. truncatula, were collected from the lowland pasture (snail sp. 'A') in May (n=23) and from the hill area (snail sp. 'B') in March, April and May 2008 (n=78, 53 and 36 respectively). Morphological characteristics identified snail sp. 'A' as a Succinea sp. and snail sp. 'B' as Radix peregra. PCR and subsequent sequencing of the 18S gene and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) region of the snail rDNA were used for molecular identification. The 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences revealed a 99% similarity with Omalonyx matheroni (Succineidae) for snail sp. 'A', and for snail sp. 'B' a 99% and 98% similarity with Radix auricularia and R. peregra, respectively. The ITS-2 sequences of snail sp. 'B' revealed a 100% similarity with R. peregra. Using PCR F. hepatica DNA was identified in 73.9% (n=17) of snail sp. 'A' collected during May and 10.3% (n=8), 60.4% (n=32) and 61.1% (n=22) of snail sp. 'B' collected during March, April and May, respectively. A priori knowledge of habitat preference and environmental tolerances of G. truncatula has failed to explain the prevalence of infection recorded in the hill sheep flock on Teagasc hill sheep farm. These findings may explain the presence of infection in sheep populations grazing hill habitats considered too acidic to maintain G. truncatula populations.