An investigation of anthelmintic efficacy against strongyles on equine yards in Scotland.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Cyathostomins comprise 50 helminth species, considered the most problematic equine endoparasites. Three classes of anthelmintic are currently licensed for their control, namely the benzimidazoles (fenbendazole), tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel) and macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin). Anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins is common. With no new classes expected in the near future, it is essential to determine the efficacy of the available anthelmintics to inform future control programmes. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of all 3 anthelmintic classes against strongyles in equids on livery yards in east and central Scotland. STUDY DESIGN: Anthelmintic efficacy testing using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). METHODS: FECRTs were performed on equids with initial strongyle faecal egg counts (FECs) of ≥50 eggs per gram. Efficacy was determined by comparing pretreatment (Day 0) and 14 days post treatment (Day 14) FECs. The following chemicals were tested: fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin and moxidectin. Group arithmetic mean FECR of >90% for fenbendazole and pyrantel, and >95% for ivermectin and moxidectin, represented efficacy, whereas lower mean FECR indicated potential resistance. RESULTS: A total of 447 FECRTs were performed on 15 yards, as follows (the numbers in parentheses represent the number of yards each anthelmintic was tested on): 55 equids (7 yards) fenbendazole, 111 (8 yards) pyrantel, 163 (13 yards) ivermectin and 118 (10 yards) moxidectin. Fenbendazole resistance was documented on all yards (range of mean FECR, 15.8-83.4%), whereas pyrantel (90.4-99.6%), ivermectin (99.5-100%) and moxidectin (99.4-100%) treatment had acceptable efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced efficacy of fenbendazole was widespread, whereas >90% efficacy was found after pyrantel, and >95% efficacy after ivermectin and moxidectin. Overall, efficacies were higher than reported previously in Europe and the USA, potentially reflecting differences in management and anthelmintic use on the yards surveyed. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The use of fenbendazole for strongyle control in Scotland should be questioned. Targeted use of pyrantel should be encouraged to reduce reliance on macrocyclic lactones. Further work to correlate management practices with the presence of anthelmintic resistance is warranted.

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.

Anthelmintic efficacy against cyathostomins in horses in Southern England.

Cyathostomins are considered to be the most important group of helminths to affect equids due to their high prevalence, potential pathogenicity and ability to develop anthelmintic resistance. Their control relies almost exclusively on frequent anthelmintic use. Currently, fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel embonate (PYR), ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MOX) are licensed for use in horses in the UK. With no new anthelmintics likely to be licensed in the near future, it is essential that investigations into the efficacy of current anthelmintics in different locations are performed to help inform control programmes. Here, efficacy of FBZ, PYR, IVM and MOX in horse populations in the South of England was investigated. Horses with a strongyle faecal egg count (FEC) of ≥50 eggs per gram (EPG) were enrolled onto a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) study. Efficacy was determined by calculating the percentage reduction in FEC between the group mean at Day 0 and 14 days post-treatment. Efficacy was indicated when a group arithmetic faecal egg count reduction (FECR) of ≥90% was recorded for FBZ and PYR, and ≥95% for IVM and MOX. Between March and December 2012, 404 FECRT were performed on 12 yards examining 101, 110, 93 and 100 equids for FBZ, PYR, IVM, and MOX, respectively. FBZ resistance was identified on all yards (mean FECR range 0-65.8%). On 10 of 12 yards, PYR efficacy was >90% (91.0-99.4%) and on two yards, PYR resistance was suspected (86.8-87.2%). IVM (96.4-100%) and MOX (99.9-100%) were >95% efficacious on all yards. As the prevalence of FBZ resistance was 100%, the future use of this anthelmintic for the control of strongyles should be questioned. PYR should be used strategically to reduce reliance on the macrocyclic lactone class products. Over-dispersion of FEC between horses was observed (average k=0.21) with 80% of the strongyle eggs counted measured in 15% of horses tested, strongly supporting the application of targeted helminth control programmes in this host species.

In equine grass sickness, serum amyloid A and fibrinogen are elevated, and can aid differential diagnosis from non-inflammatory causes of colic.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a debilitating and often fatal neurodegenerative disease. A presumptive diagnosis of EGS may be made on the basis of clinical signs and subjective ancillary tests, but a definitive antemortem diagnosis can only be made following histopathological examination of intestinal biopsies. It has previously been reported that horses with EGS may show clinical and clinicopathological signs of systemic inflammation. The objective of this study was to (a) quantify acute inflammatory markers in blood samples collected from acute, subacute and chronic EGS cases, and (b) compare them with (i) clinically normal horses co-grazing with acute EGS cases (co-grazers), (ii) horses with other causes of colic and (iii) healthy horses. Serum amyloid A (SAA), serum activin A and plasma fibrinogen were quantified. There were marked increases in SAA and fibrinogen in EGS cases compared with healthy horses, co-grazers and non-inflammatory colic cases. The concentrations of SAA and fibrinogen in EGS cases were not significantly different from inflammatory colic cases. When concentrations of SAA, fibrinogen and activin A in each EGS subgroup were compared, no significant differences were detected. Activin A concentrations were significantly elevated in EGS cases and co-grazing horses; this could reflect the presence of subclinical disease in some horses that do not develop clinical signs of EGS, and suggests widespread exposure to the aetiological agent. When faced with sparse antemortem diagnostic techniques, identification of marked increases in acute phase protein concentrations may help to differentiate EGS from other causes of abdominal pain, such as intestinal obstructions; however, there could be diagnostic difficulty in differentiating other inflammatory abdominal conditions, such as peritonitis or enteritis.

Plasma neurofilament pNF-H concentration is not increased in acute equine grass sickness.

Although a presumptive diagnosis of acute grass sickness (AGS) can be made on the basis of clinical signs, a definitive ante mortem diagnosis currently requires histological examination of enteric ganglia. Development of an accurate noninvasive ante mortem diagnostic test is therefore warranted. The objective of this study was to determine whether quantification of the plasma concentrations of the heavily phosphorylated form of major neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H), which mirror the degree of axonal degeneration in some human and animal neurodegenerative disorders, could distinguish AGS-affected and control horses. The pNF-H was quantified in plasma from 20 AGS cases and 20 control horses using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Five AGS and 4 control samples had detectable pNF-H concentrations (>0.0759 ng/ml). There was no significant intergroup difference in pNF-H concentrations. It was concluded that plasma pNF-H is not a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of AGS.

An update on cyathostomins: anthelmintic resistance and diagnostic tools.

Cyathostomins represent a potential cause of equine morbidity and have become the main focus of endoparasite control in managed horses. All grazing horses are at risk of infection with cyathostomins; therefore, the application of appropriate management measures is essential. Anthelmintics currently comprise the main method of control for equine nematodes and the ready availability of these products in some countries has resulted in their use becoming dissociated from veterinary involvement. This is concerning given the levels of anthelmintic resistance that have been recorded in cyathostomin populations. It is important that veterinarians re-establish control over the implementation of parasite control programmes, a major objective of which should be the preservation of anthelmintic efficacy. This article details the principles of cyathostomin control in horses with particular reference to anthelmintic resistance, and the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests for detecting cyathostomins and identifying anthelmintic resistance.