Shedding consistency of strongyle-type eggs in Dutch boarding horses.
Faeces of 484 horses were sampled twice with an interval of 6 weeks while anthelmintic therapy was halted. Faecal eggs counts revealed that 267 (55.2%) horses had consistently low numbers of eggs per gram faeces (EPG) (EPG < 100 or = 100), 155 (32.0%) horses had consistently high EPGs (EPG > 100). Horses with consistently high EPGs were more often mares with access to pasture, aged less than 6 or more than 23 years, that were dewormed at intervals longer than 6 months, and were treated for the last time more than 3 months before the start of the study. Horses with consistently low EPGs were more often male horses with no or limited access to pasture, that were dewormed at maximally 6-month intervals, and were aged between 6 and 23 years. The results are an indication that some horses have consistently low EPGs and perhaps could be used as non-treated animals in a selective anthelmintic treatment scheme aimed at the prevention of the development of anthelmintic resistance.
Döpfer
D
D
Division of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.165, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands. dorte.dopfer@wur.nl
Kerssens
C M
CM
Meijer
Y G M
YG
Boersema
J H
JH
Eysker
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary*; D006109:Poaceae; D012737:Sex Factors; D013319:Strongyle Infections, Equine / Q000469:parasitology*; D013323:Strongylus