Australian guidelines for equine internal parasite management

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the emergence of resistance amongst intestinal parasites of horses to all available anthelmintic classes has emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in parasite control approaches within the Australian equine industry. Findings of a recent Australia-wide research project have provided new insights into intestinal parasites (i.e. strongyles and ascarids) and parasite control from the perspectives of Australian horse breeders and equine veterinarians. The published data have revealed recent trends in parasite prevalence and distribution, breeders' and veterinarians' attitudes and perspectives on controlling horse internal parasites, the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintic products and post-treatment egg reappearance periods. These studies have formed the basis of newly developed guidelines managing and treating gastrointestinal nematodes in horses. Tailored for equine veterinarians, these guidelines contain information on target parasites and risk factors for their transmission, as well as practical advice for surveillance, anthelmintic choice, timing of treatment, testing for anthelmintic resistance and managing refugia. The Australian Guidelines for Equine Internal Parasite Management (AGEIPM) will serve as a pocket companion for equine veterinarians, providing best-practice recommendations grounded in locally conducted scientific research. Dissemination and extension of the AGEIPM to industry will strengthen the client-practitioner relationship. The aim is to reduce reliance on blanket deworming in equine parasite management programs and help curb the progression of resistance to the limited anthelmintic classes available for treating horses.

Keywords: anthelmintic; anthelmintic resistance; equine; guidelines; management; parasites.

Figure 1

General indication of changes in egg‐shedding of strongylids (high = red line; blue line = moderate; green line = low) and Parascaris (orange line) as horses age. Coloured panels indicate recommended treatment strategies.