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Research article2024Peer reviewedOpen access

Farm size and biosecurity measures associated with Strongylus vulgaris infection in horses

Alm, Ylva Hedberg; Tyden, Eva; Martin, Frida; Lerna, Jessica; Halvarsson, Peter

Abstract

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: To investigate possible risk factors associated with the presence of S. vulgaris infection in resident horses on Swedish horse establishments. Study design: Internet-based questionnaire survey. 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: 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: 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: 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.

Keywords

blood worm; deworming; farm management; horse; horse parasites; large strongyles

Published in

Equine Veterinary Journal
2024
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Medical Bioscience

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14212

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/131901