Previously we’ve touched on the increasing threat of both anthelmintic and antibiotic resistance. Across the world, anti-microbial chemicals are an absolutely vital part of life, from medical and veterinary care, to agriculture and pest management. However, the more we use these chemicals, the more likely their targets are to develop resistance.
International Conference of the World Association of Veterinary Parasitology 2021 The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) holds an international conference every two years. There, scientists from around the world present the most recent developments in veterinary parasitology. However, with the trials presented by COVID-19, this year’s conference will be fully virtual. What is the WAAVP? The WAAVP is a non-profit organisation of scientists who study diverse aspects of veterinary parasitology. It is the largest such organisation…
To Worm or Not to Worm: Anthelmintic Resistance in Dogs This month is National Pet Month and across the UK people are celebrating the support, love, and affection we receive from these wonderful animals. We all want to keep our pets healthy and regular worming treatment is considered part of that. But is it really the best option? Can repeated treatment of worms lead to wide-spread anthelmintic resistance in dogs as it has in livestock? Which worms can dogs catch?…
4 Common Equine Parasites Your Horses Might Have Internal parasites are a common in the lives of most grazing animals. They are often consumed along with grass, feed or water, and then make their way into various internal organs. While many parasites can infect horses, there are only a few that cause, or can cause, significant health problems. Many of these can be identified though faecal egg counts (FEC). 1. Large redworms Large redworms, or large strongyles are some of…
Anthelmintics: When Should I Use a Wormer? What are wormers? An anthelmintic, or wormer, is a drug which treats infections of parasitic worms. These could be nematodes — roundworms like Ascaradia galli in chickens, cestodes — tapeworms like Moniezia expansa in sheep, or trematodes — flukes like Calicophoron daubneyi in various livestock species. Anthelmintics are widely used across the globe, but misuse is leading to the growing issue of resistance. How do I know which wormer to use? Firstly, how do you know your animals need…
Quality Monitoring of Liver Fluke Metacercariae At our laboratory part of the work we do is to maintain several colonies of mud snails. These are intermediate hosts in the life cycle of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. After eggs pass out of infected sheep in faecal matter, the eggs remain dormant on pasture until conditions are optimal. When weather conditions are warm and wet, the eggs hatch into the free-living stage. These miracidium actively seek out the snail hosts and subsequently…
An Introduction to Equine Pinworm (Oxyuris equi) What is pinworm? Oxyuris equi is a common horse pinworm that affects the equine population across the world. It spends the majority of its lifecycle as an intestinal worm, but also affects the a horse’s exterior. While not as dangerous as other parasites, it can cause significant irritation. The nematode has a direct life cycle with no intermediate host. It resides in the large intestine where, after mating, adult females migrate out through the…
Dictyocaulus viviparus – Severe risk of Lungworm in Unvaccinated Bovines A lungworm is a nematode that can affect many species of animals, including species such as: sheep, cattle, deer, goats and horses. Each species typically has a paired species of lungworm that it is susceptible to. The bovine lungworm called (Dictyocaulus viviparus) is the most common cause of lungworm in cattle. The location occupied by a lungworm will vary dependent on the host species and parasite species; lungworms may reside…
UK Parasite Watch July Edition: Parasitic Gastroenteritis (PGE) What is PGE? Sheep Parasitic Gastroenteritis or PGE is one of the biggest challenges to the welfare and economic value of keeping sheep, being the most commonly diagnosed cause of mortality in young lambs in England and Wales. As the infective period progresses eggs will be shed onto pastures by infected animals. High pasture burdens may lead to disease and reduction in welfare and profit. What causes PGE? The causative agents of…
Adapting to the loosening of COVID-19 lock down and preparing for the return to the new “normal”. As we reported in our ‘News’ in April 2020, Ridgeway has been open for business throughout lock down. The Parasitology Laboratory has been very busy sourcing new parasites whilst maintaining both of its Liver and Rumen Fluke snail colonies. What’s been happening at RRL? As the UK and countries in Europe are gradually loosening the movement restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic, the…