title: A study on the seasonal epidemiology of Anoplocephala spp.-infection in horses and the appropriate treatment using a praziquantel gel (Droncit 9% oral gel).
abstract: In a study on the seasonal dynamics of the gastro-intestinal nematode egg production in horses, one breeding farm also revealed a particularly high prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. infection. Consequently, this farm was chosen for analysing the seasonal pattern of the tapeworm egg excretion over a one year period in order to establish the most favourable periods for an appropriate and successful cestocidal treatment. The seasonal analysis showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) Anoplocephala spp. egg excretion between July and October, i.e. during the second part of the grazing period. This result clearly underlines the importance of a cestocidal treatment during that period of the year. Subsequently, horses of this farm and of a second farm with a high prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. were used to evaluate the efficacy of praziquantel in a specific oral gel formulation for horses under field conditions. The efficacy of praziquantel was tested in a total of 33 horses from the two farms harbouring a coproscopically detected Anoplocephala spp. infection prior to treatment. Praziquantel (Droncit 9%, oral gel, 1 mg/kg bodyweight) was administered to the horses according to their body weight. The efficacy of the drug was evaluated ten days after treatment by a double faecal analysis. Thereby, no Anoplocephala spp. eggs were found in the faeces of 32 horses (97%). The single horse remaining positive for Anoplocephala spp. eggs did not completely swallow the anthelmintic gel and consequently, did not receive the appropriate dose of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Liselore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roelfstra
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Betschart
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfister
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002589:Cestoda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel