Manage, monitor and reduce risk: New guidance to tackle growing threat to horse health
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has provided new guidance for owners and vets on detecting and managing wormer resistance in horses. Anthelmintic resistance is becoming an increasingly common and challenging issue. The environmental impact of wormers, and the potential risks to human health are also growing concerns.The expanded ProtectMEtoo Toolkit has been developed by BEVAs Anthelmintic Working Group, led by Nicky Housby-Skeggs, and provides step-by-step guidance on monitoring for resistance, interpreting results and managing confirmed cases.While preventing resistance from developing in the first place is always the best approach, we also need to be equipped to manage it when it is already present, said Nicky. Monitoring the effectiveness of wormers at herd level is an essential component of sustainable parasite control and should be undertaken at least annually. This new guidance is designed to give vets and owners the practical tools they need to manage, monitor and reduce resistance risk.Why monitor for anthelmintic resistance? Although established resistance can be difficult, and potentially impossible, to reverse, identifying it early allows changes to parasite-control strategies that can protect horse health and welfare, slow the development and spread of further resistance and preserve the effectiveness of the anthelmintic treatments that remain available.A Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) is the most reliable method for determining whether an anthelmintic is working effectively within a group of horses and the new section of the ProtectMEtoo Toolkit explains how to conduct and interpret FECRTs, as well as providing guidance on the steps to take when resistance is confirmed.Once resistance has been identified, parasite control should focus on reducing further selection for resistance rather than simply switching from one wormer to another.The ProtectMEtoo Toolkit provides practical guidance on improving pasture management, increasing monitoring and maintaining refugia (the population of parasites that remains unexposed to treatment) to help slow the development of further resistance.Resistance does not need to be confirmed before improvements to parasite management are made.Improving welfareEffective parasite control should be based on targeted treatment, regular monitoring, effective pasture and stable hygiene and appropriate grazing management.Together, these measures can reduce selection pressure for resistance and help preserve the effectiveness of available anthelmintics for the future, added Nicky.The ProtectMEtoo Toolkit resource was launched at BEVA Congress earlier this month and can be found onlinehere.Related contentWhich parasite and why: essential seven-step worming planHow targeted worming can protect your horse and the environmentDont think just of your own horses: Worming patterns could have serious consequencesThe post Manage, monitor and reduce risk: New guidance to tackle growing threat to horse health appeared first on Your Horse.
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