Equine cyathostomins: a review of biology, clinical significance and therapy

Abstract

The small strongyles of horses, also known as cyathostomins, are considered the most prevalent and pathogenic parasites of horses today. The clinical syndrome of larval cyathostominosis which occurs as a result of mass emergence of inhibited stages has a high fatality rate despite the best standard of care given to affected horses. Management of the challenge level of cyathostomins to prevent the syndrome is preferable. Many different management programmes have been tried over the past two decades, with mixed success. Programmes have relied heavily on repeated use of anthelmintic treatments throughout the life of a horse.The widespread incidence of resistance to certain anthelmintics is reducing these options.An understanding of the biology of cyathostomins, risk factors for infection and appropriate strategic use of still effective anthelmintics is essential for the future management of this parasite group.This review highlights the necessity to use currently available anthelmintics that are appropriately suited to the biology of cyathostomins, and to maintain heir efficacy through an appropriate treatment strategy.

Contamination of the environment by strongylid (Nematoda: Strongylidae) infective larvae at horse farms of various types in Ukraine

“…So, we deduced that most of the stalled horses in Ukraine mainly were infected with cyathostomes, and large strongyles would be found only in some horse specimens. This corresponds to data of other researchers: cyathostomes become the most prevalent and important group of equine parasites (Herd 1990b;Love et al 1999;Osterman Lind et al 1999;Lyons et al 1999Lyons et al , 2000Konigová et al 2001;Collobert-Laugier et al 2002;Kaplan 2002;Corning 2009). The decrease of the proportion of large strongyles in a horse strongylid community in Ukraine during the past 40 years was registered previously (Kuzmina 2004;Kuzmina et al 2005), and, in our opinion, it was also the result of a wide application of modern highly effective anthelmintics.…”

Analysis of Regional Peculiarities of Strongylid (Nematoda, Strongylidae) Biodiversity in Domestic Horses in Ukraine

“…Our data correspond to the data of other researchers that found cyathostomes the most prevalent and important group of equine parasites (Herd, 1990;Love et al, 1999;Osterman Lind et al, 1999;Lyons et al, 1999;Konigova et al, 2001;Collobert-Laugier et al, 2002;Kaplan, 2002;Corning, 2009). A decrease in the proportion of large strongyles among the horse strongylids in Ukraine during the past 40 years was registered previously (Kuzmina et al, 2005) and, in our opinion, it also was the result of a widespread application of highly effective modern anthelmintics.…”

Investigation of strongyle EPG values in horse mares relative to known age, number positive, and level of egg shedding in field studies on 26 farms in Central Kentucky (2010–2011)

“…It is known that animals exposed to small strongyles typically develop some immunity to infection as they age, resulting in lower infections (Döpfer et al 2004;Klei and Chapman 1999;Love et al 1999;Osterman Lind et al 1999;Corning 2009). Data on definite known ages of equids are sparse.…”

“…Since the most pathogenic strongyles (Strongylus spp.) currently are rare in equids on farms with routine deworming programs (Herd 1990;Osterman Lind et al 1999;Lyons et al 2000;Kaplan 2002;Corning 2009), much more leeway is possible for control of the typically less pathogenic small strongyles (cyathostomes or cyathostomins).…”