Worming experts at Pfizer Animal Health are reminding
horse owners of the importance of treating encysted
small redworm larvae this autumn. These hidden, dormant
parasites can account for up to 90% of the redworm
burden in your horse (1). What’s really alarming
is that encysted small redworm larvae won’t
show up in a faecal egg count (FEC). Even if your
horse has shown a negative or low count it could still
be harbouring several million harmful larvae, hidden
within the gut wall (2)
Encysted small redworm are a potential time bomb,
with the ability to survive inside a horse for up
to two years. They usually ‘wake-up’ in
the late winter or early spring, developing and emerging
from the gut wall all at the same time. Such a sudden
mass emergence can cause a disease syndrome known
as ‘larval cyathostominosis’, causing
diarrhoea and colic with up to a 50% mortality rate
(2). Treating encysted small redworm successfully
in the late autumn or early winter is vitally important
in order to prevent this serious risk.
Moxidectin, the key ingredient of EQUEST®, is
recognised as the only single dose treatment for encysted
small redworm. It has been shown to kill the larvae
in-situ, without resulting in severe inflammation
of the gut wall that other multi-dose treatments may
cause (3). In addition, Moxidectin is licensed for
persistent activity against small redworm over two
weeks, killing larvae ingested as the horse grazes
for up to two weeks after treatment.
Ben Gaskell, Pfizer’s veterinary advisor explains:
“A responsible and sustainable worming programme
involves good pasture management, regular diagnostic
tests and targeted worming, carefully planned using
specialist advice. However, it is also vital to remember
the danger of encysted small redworm. Even if your
horse’s FEC is clear, there could still be a
significant encysted small redworm burden that must
be treated properly every year in late autumn / early
winter.”
This autumn, don’t compromise your horse’s
health - make sure that your worm control strategy
includes a dose of EQUEST or EQUEST PRAMOX, the only
wormers that contain moxidectin.
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