title: Strongyle egg reappearance period after moxidectin treatment and its relationship with management factors in UK equine populations.
abstract: Parasitic nematodes, particularly cyathostomins, are ubiquitous in grazing horses world-wide. Considerable burdens of cyathostomin larvae can encyst in the large intestinal wall. The most recommended treatment against these pathogenic stages is moxidectin. Information is required on how effective moxidectin is against cyathostomin populations in different regions. The objectives here were to determine the efficacy of moxidectin treatment and estimate the strongyle egg reappearance period (ERP) after treatment in several equine populations, to confirm the type of strongyle nematodes present and to identify other (i.e. management) factors associated with shortened ERP. Eight yards were recruited and moxidectin in combination with praziquantel administered to all horses (n=261). Faecal egg count (FEC) analysis was performed at weeks 0, 2, 6, 10 and 12 after treatment to determine efficacy and ERP. The ERP was estimated using two previously published methods. Morphological identification of cultured third stage larvae from the sample population was compared to a Strongylus vulgaris-specific end-point PCR to examine the presence of S. vulgaris in samples before and after treatment. Strongyle egg shedding patterns were also compared to worm management practices at each site. At 2 weeks post-treatment, moxidectin was highly effective (faecal egg count reduction range, 99.9-100%). The strongyle ERP ranged from 6 weeks to >12 weeks depending on the calculation method applied. Only cyathostomin larvae were detected by morphological identification. The results from the coprocultures and PCR showed that S. vulgaris was absent before and after treatment. Analysis revealed that regular faecal removal from pasture was associated with lower average FEC and lower prevalence of egg shedding.
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK. Electronic address: thomas.tzelos@moredun.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzelos
authors.affiliation: University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jessica S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Barbeito
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZJ, UK.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hodgkinson
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D007814:Larva; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013319:Strongyle Infections, Equine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013323:Strongylus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D018942:Macrolides; D011223:Praziquantel; C027837:moxidectin
keywords: Egg reappearance period; Equines; Moxidectin; Strongyles