Alternative methods for controlling the blood worm large strongyles
KEY POINTS- The goal of this project is to improve the methods of controlling blood worm infections without using anthelmintics.
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Short summary
More and more horses in Sweden are affected by the blood worm large strongyles (Strongylus vulgaris). At the same time, anthelmintic resistance is a major problem and a threat to the health of horses. Like antibiotics, it is necessary to be restrictive with anthelmintics to preserve the effect.
In the past, horses were routinely dewormed, but selective deworming has been recommended for the last ten years. Unfortunately, the horse's most feared parasite, the large bloodworm (Strongylus vulgaris), has increased in Sweden since then. The solution to the problem is not to go back to routine deworming of all horses, but to develop alternative sustainable methods to complement deworming agents.
Aim
The aim of this project is to:
- Investigate the overwintering of the large bloodworm larvae on pasture.
- Evaluate a predatory fungus that traps parasitic larvae in the pasture droppings.
Finding sustainable practices for parasite control without increasing parasite damage is crucial for the future. The results from this project may contribute to new methods for both control and diagnosis of bloodworms.
Collaborations
In addition to the participants from SLU, the following people are also an important part of the research group:
- Eva Osterman-Lind, SVA
- Tina Hollberg Phil, University of Copenhagen
- Stig Thamsborg, University of Copenhagen