Farm size and biosecurity measures associated with Strongylus vulgaris infection in horses.
blood worm
deworming
farm management
horse
horse parasites
large strongyles
Journal
Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
Titre abrégé: Equine Vet J
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0173320
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
22 Aug 2024
22 Aug 2024
Historique:
received:
11
03
2024
accepted:
30
07
2024
medline:
22
8
2024
pubmed:
22
8
2024
entrez:
22
8
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Selective anthelmintic treatment, advocated due to evolving anthelmintic resistance, has been associated with an increase in Strongylus vulgaris prevalence. Reverting to routine interval anthelmintic treatments is not viable and therefore, identifying other management factors correlated with S. vulgaris infection is vital. To investigate possible risk factors associated with the presence of S. vulgaris infection in resident horses on Swedish horse establishments. Internet-based questionnaire survey. A questionnaire, created using the internet-based survey platform Netigate, was distributed to owners of equine establishments throughout Sweden via established equine platforms and social media channels. The survey was available for response from 21 May until 1 September 2022. Questions were closed ended with branching logic paths. Four factors were significantly associated with S. vulgaris infection, with an increased odds of infection seen in livery yards (odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.36, p = 0.004) and premises with more than 10 resident horses (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.64-3.56, p < 0.001). A lower odds of infection were seen in establishments using quarantine routines (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.96, p = 0.03) and anthelmintic treatment of new horses prior to arrival at the premise (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18-0.74, p = 0.005). Due to the presence of S. vulgaris infection in the present study being based on S. vulgaris diagnostics performed at the farm level, any association between faecal diagnostic use and risk of infection could not be investigated. Although the use of diagnostics for S. vulgaris can keep infection rates low, large farms or livery yards with many different horse owners, and those with low use of biosecurity measures as regards to new horses arriving at the premise, are associated with a higher risk of infection.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Selective anthelmintic treatment, advocated due to evolving anthelmintic resistance, has been associated with an increase in Strongylus vulgaris prevalence. Reverting to routine interval anthelmintic treatments is not viable and therefore, identifying other management factors correlated with S. vulgaris infection is vital.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible risk factors associated with the presence of S. vulgaris infection in resident horses on Swedish horse establishments.
STUDY DESIGN
METHODS
Internet-based questionnaire survey.
METHODS
METHODS
A questionnaire, created using the internet-based survey platform Netigate, was distributed to owners of equine establishments throughout Sweden via established equine platforms and social media channels. The survey was available for response from 21 May until 1 September 2022. Questions were closed ended with branching logic paths.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Four factors were significantly associated with S. vulgaris infection, with an increased odds of infection seen in livery yards (odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.36, p = 0.004) and premises with more than 10 resident horses (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.64-3.56, p < 0.001). A lower odds of infection were seen in establishments using quarantine routines (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.96, p = 0.03) and anthelmintic treatment of new horses prior to arrival at the premise (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18-0.74, p = 0.005).
MAIN LIMITATION
CONCLUSIONS
Due to the presence of S. vulgaris infection in the present study being based on S. vulgaris diagnostics performed at the farm level, any association between faecal diagnostic use and risk of infection could not be investigated.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Although the use of diagnostics for S. vulgaris can keep infection rates low, large farms or livery yards with many different horse owners, and those with low use of biosecurity measures as regards to new horses arriving at the premise, are associated with a higher risk of infection.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : The Foundation for Swedish and Norwegian Equine Research
ID : H-15-47-097
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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