[Helminth control in the adult horse: the need for a re-orientation].
The epidemiological situation of strongyle infections in adult horses in Switzerland is characterized by a strong dominance of small strongyles (Cyathostominae) and an overall low level of egg shedding in the faeces. The prevailing attitude towards anthelmintic therapy considers neither husbandry conditions nor pasture hygiene measures. Instead, calendar-based routine medication, comprising usually 3 to 4 annual treatments, is the typical strategy. Such an approach, however, often results in an excessive administration of anthelmintics. With respect to the continuous spread of drug resistant cyathostomins a change of strategy seems inevitable. A consensus has been agreed on between equine parasitologists and clinicians of the Vetsuisse Faculty in Zurich and Berne to focus on the concept of a selective control approach, based on individual faecal egg counts as the central element. It is now recommended that clinically healthy horses (> 4 y) are treated only when their strongyle egg count is equal to or higher than 200 eggs per gram of faeces. A regular analysis of the strongyle population based on larval cultures, the control of drug efficacy, and quarantine measures for incoming horses are mandatory components of the concept. Recent experiences in several pilot farms have indicated that only 4 % of the McMaster analyses resulted in a deworming treatment. For horses that did not receive any nematicidal anthelmintic during the current season, a "safety" treatment is recommended at the end of the grazing period.
Institut für Parasitologie, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Zürich.
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Hertzberg
Departement für Pferde, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Zürich.
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Schwarzwald
Institut für Parasitologie, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Zürich.
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Grimm
Institut für Parasitologie, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Bern.
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Frey
Institut für Parasitologie, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Bern.
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Gottstein
Institut suisse de médecine équine, Departement klinische Forschung, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Bern und ALP-Haras.
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Gerber
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013319:Strongyle Infections, Equine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013557:Switzerland
D000871:Anthelmintics
Anthelminthika-Resistenz; Pferd; Strongyliden; anthelmintic resistance; horse; selective treatment; selektive Behandlung; strongyles