Unwanted parasites are a major threat to the health of horses, cattle and livestock. Although we use the example of horses throughout , the parasites amd worms mentioned apply similarly to other livestock.
A single horse can be susceptible to over 60 types of parasite and may harbor several different sorts of worms at any particular time. The consequences of internal parasites are significantly more clear in young and seemingly undernourished livestock.
Egg Count
A young animal with an egg count of 2,000 eggs per gram of faeces — not a uncommon amount — can discharge up to 25 million eggs per day. You read that right twenty five million. This creates an almost instant source of infection for other close by horses in the meadows and pasture or the stables. Although the eggs are not visible to the naked eye, a proper microscopic examination of a horse’s fecal droppings may evidence more then you thought possible. Confirming the presence of parasite eggs can help you figure out what parasite type is present and establish the state of the infestation.
Many of the products used to eliminate internal parasites in horses became ineffectual through overuse and misuse. Fear of the detrimental impact that parasites can bring about may cause an over-reaction that’s self-defeating.
Life Cycle
Most worms begin their lives as eggs, maturing into larvae. Young worms can within a matter of weeks become adults that in turn lay eggs, commencing this life cycle all over again. As an egg or larva, once inside the horse’s body, each adopts a different strategy of migration and reproduction, essentially ending up in the digestive tract. The great majority of worms are defecated in the horse’s manure; other, nearby grazing horses will ingest those eggs.
Of the signs that indicate parasitic activity, colic can suggest a significant infestation as can underweight, poor growth or coat shine.
Roundworm
The Parascaris equorum or roundworm is one of the first parasites that infest young foals. Growing anything up to 12-15 inches long, they customarily remain as eggs until ingested. Found anywhere in the surrounding environment they are coated with an adhesive protein that helps them stick to all kinds of surfaces – barn walls, buckets, troughs, a horse’s mane and even a mare’s udder if she lies down on the dirt. A foal can become infected by eating hay, nursing or simply brushing up against a fence post.
Once ingested, the eggs hatch inside the small intestine. Larvae penetrates the gut tissue and enters the bloodstream travelling to any part of the horse’s body. Much damage is inflicted during the migratory process itself. From the liver they reach the heart, enter the lungs then the windpipe where they’re coughed up before being swallowed into the intestines. Pneumonia often takes place in a compromised lung. It takes 10 to 12 weeks for roundworm to conclude this particular cycle . Most foals become overrun by larvae soon after birth; most worms are maturing when foals are 2 to 3 months old.
A serious infestation of roundworm frequently causes constrictions in the gut, leading to obvious digestive problems.
Bloodworm
In certain countries blood worms are thought to be the most damaging worm to horses. The prolific nature of blood worms makes them at least appear to bear the effects of conventional de-worming medications. As adults, blood worms become voracious blood suckers causing anaemia, diarrhoea, and damage to the intestinal lining at the same time settling in the large intestine and surrounding arteries where they inflame and irritate, causing parasitic aneurysm. The blood flow is usually impaired often causing a rupture or in severe cases, the horse’s death from internal bleeding. Lameness is an indication of blood clots from parasites lodged in the arteries of the rear legs.
It takes approximately 6 months for the maturing worms to complete their migration before settling in the large intestine. Foals less than 6 months old will unwittingly give sanctuary to blood worms as they migrate.
Pinworm
Adult pinworm live in the lower colon of horses. Female worms migrate to the anus to leave their eggs in a cement-like mix. This “egg-cement” dries, cracks, and along with the eggs, detaches from the skin in flakes causing irritation, constant itching and restlessness.
The affected horse rubs its tail on any still object, causing a characteristic “rat-tail appearance.” Serious rubbing may cause further irritation and secondary infection of the anus, tail and surrounding skin. Pinworm are rather more a nuisance than a threat. As horses rub their rear ends and tails on nearby objects, the eggs are deposited to await another horse that licks the object, swallowing the egg.
Tapeworm
Tapeworm are different to other internal parasites. Female tapeworm do not lay eggs. Instead , tapeworm segments containing eggs break off inside the colon which are then passed in the manure.
Second, tapeworms have an indirect life cycle. Before they become infective to a host, they evolve from an indirect host. For instance a horse passes eggs in its manure; mites in the pasture ingest these eggs. The eggs hatch and develop into larvae that are infective to horses. As the horse is grazing, the mites containing the infective larvae are ingested after which they migrate to ileocecal valve. After 6 to 12 weeks the mites start shedding segments full of eggs. If not eliminated, chronic conditions may necessitate surgery.
Threadworm
Threadworm essentially affects foals, usually ingested from larvae present in a mare’s milk. Threadworm larvae are found in mare’s milk from 4 to 40 days after foaling; foals may become seriously infected by three weeks of age, shown by diarrhoea and indigestion.
Bots
Bots are the larvae of flies that have become highly specialized as parasites of horses. Female flies lay up to 900 eggs in as little as 3 hours, gluing them to the hairs of the horse’s mane or body. Horses can sense when flies try to lay eggs and react by continually moving and throwing their heads violently. Riders have commented that during this phase, horses become temporarily uncontrollable.
Although there are many different types of bot fly, the common bot lays its eggs on the hairs of the horse’s front legs. Hatching usually happens when they are rubbed by the moist lips of the host. The larvae emerge during this process and stick to the mucous membrane in the mouth, afterward penetrating the mouth, lips, gums and tongue before migrating to the digestive tract.
The presence of large numbers of bot flies cause damage to the lining of the gut, with a resultant deprivation of nutrients. In cases of heavy infestation, death may occur.
On any farm, ranch or estate Pareto’s law applies – 20% of the horses shed 80% of the parasites. If you can identify the hosts, you can create a good de-worming schedule. Instead of de-worming every animal more often than is necessary you can de-worm the animals that shed the most eggs. This practice will save you a substantial outlay of money and time.
Strongly recommended for getting rid of worms from animals of all shapes and size is Critter Cleanse, a 500 year old broad spectrum herbal formula originating in Ancient Phoenicia.
From a family of Clydeside Scots, Graeme was born and brought up in Hong Kong. He lived for 35 years there, as well as in Borneo and Indonesia. Intrigued by the way in which the different Asian cultures approach their health and wellbeing, he studied aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine and became familiar with many other time-honoured healing methods, from the traditional Jamu herbal medicine healers of Java to the body balancing mechanisms of Jin Shin Jyutsu, from Japan. Along with his wife Phylipa, Graeme runs Resources For Life, a natural health business in Chichester, West Sussex. Much of what is available on their web site has origins steeped in ancient wisdom.
For more information on Critter Cleanse, a broad spectrum, anti-parasite natural herbal formula click here.
