Global equine parasite control guidelines: Consensus or confusion?

Nielsen, Martin K.; Pyatt, Alison; Perrett, Jodie; Tyden, Eva; van Doorn, Deborah; Pihl, Tina H.; Schmidt, Jennifer S.; von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg; Beasley, Anne; Abbas, Ghazanfar; Jabbar, Abdul

doi:10.1016/j.ijpddr.2025.100600

Abstract

Equine parasite control has historically been characterized by confusing and conflicting information, posing significant challenges for veterinarians and horse owners to make evidence-based decisions. Since 2012, equine parasite control guidelines have been developed and published for different parts of the world to address this situation and provide trusted sources of current guidance. At the 2024 International Equine Infectious Disease Conference in Deauville, Normandy, France, lead authors of equine parasite control guideline documents published in the USA, UK, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, and Europe convened and presented their guidelines. This led to a discussion of differences and similarities between the guidelines and an effort to identify current research needs in this area. In general, all guidelines recommend a surveillance-based approach for equine parasite control, emphasizing the importance of anthelmintic resistance testing. Some guidelines have a focus on controlling Strongylus vulgaris, while others primarily focus on cyathostomins, ascarids and tapeworms. Although the same four anthelmintic drug classes are marketed in most countries, there are some differences between product portfolios available, most notably between Australia and other countries. European countries have various degrees of prescription-only restrictions on anthelmintic products, whereas products are available over the counter in Australia and the USA. Commercially available diagnostic portfolios differed somewhat between countries and affected recommendations made as well. In conclusion, the guidelines are in general agreement and are based on the same general principles. One major challenge is communicating the recommendations effectively to end-users, which should be made a priority going forward.

Keywords

Horse; Diagnosis; Treatment; Drug resistance; Ascarids; Strongyles; Tapeworms; Regulations; Recommendations; Helminth; Worm

Published in

International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance
2025, volume: 28, article number: 100600
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

Tyden, Eva
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Pathobiology

Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2025.100600

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142530