![]() Ascarid levels in foals should be monitored using FWECs and check annually for resistance using a FWEC reduction test. Ascarids are now resistant to most types of dewormer drugs, so it is essential that good management practices are used to reduce the level of infection and prevent disease. If the worms are found in livestock water troughs, the water can be kept clean with routine flushing. Furthermore, the worms can be beneficial, because they will parasitize a few pest insect species, although their effect on natural invertebrate populations is minimal. These are primarily a problem in foals and to a lesser extent yearlings because their immune system has not yet fully developed. The horsehair worms are interesting threadlike roundworms that resemble the 'hair of a horse's tail or mane.' These long, active worms may be observed in streams and ponds during late summer or fall but are more commonly noticed in domestic water containers such as bird baths, swimming pools, water troughs, pet dishes, sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. Control of horsehair worms in natural water sources is impractical. Here they reach maturity and eggs are shed into the horse’s faeces. The larvae then travel up the windpipe causing irritation and coughing, resulting in them being swallowed back into the small intestine. Larvae ingested by the horse reach the small intestine, travel to the liver and then on to the lungs, feeding at each stage. Large creamy white worms, up to 40cm in length. However, prevention through good management and monitoring is far better and safer than relying on treatment once infection has developed. It is therefore important that the population of horses are monitored with FWECs and pasture is well managed to make sure the levels of infection with redworm eggs is kept to a safe level.Īn estimate of exposure to small redworm can be made from a blood test and if necessary specific treatment can be administered to remove both adult and larval stages. Horses that are badly affected with an encysted burden may develop severe weight loss and potentially life-threatening diarrhoea. ![]() If redworms are not monitored and levels of infection become high, then horses may grow more slowly (young animals) or lose weight.Īt their immature (larval) phase, redworms become encysted (buried into the lining of the intestine) and cannot be identified on FWECs, as they don’t lay eggs at this stage. When levels of egg shedding get high, treatment of individual horses may be needed to limit contamination of pasture and prevent infection. For most it does not present a problem, but some have a violent reaction to the resultant larvae or microfilariae. Faecal Worm Egg Count (FWEC) should be used regularly to identify the number of eggs that are being produced by adult worms. The majority of horses have neck threadworm. The most common threat to horses, with more than 50 different species.Īll horses will have some small redworm and in small numbers they cause no problems.Up to 2.5cm long, thin and usually reddish in colour (the unfed worms appear white).Small Redworm (small roundworms, Cyathostomins)
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