Determination of Anthelmintic Resistance to Ivermectin and Praziquantel in Strongylidae Infected Horses

Abstract

The growing resistance of parasites to anthelmintic drugs in horse breeding has the potential to cause significant challenges in horse health and antiparasitic treatments. The objective of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of ivermectin and praziquantel against Strongylus spp., which are digestive system helminths of horses, and to determine the potential for anthelminthic resistance to develop against these agents. Fecal samples were collected from 60 horses of varying ages from 30 thoroughbred British horse breeding farms in Şanlıurfa, Mersin, and Adana provinces. The samples were then examined using the McMaster technique for Strongylidae eggs. The presence of Strongylidae eggs was identified in 20 samples (33.33%). Horses infected with Strongylidae were treated orally with a combination of commercial ivermectin and praziquantel at 0.2 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. On the 14th day following administration, fecal samples were collected from the horses for a second time, and all analyses were repeated. It was determined that the drug combination used was 100% effective against Strongylidae agents. Furthermore, the results of the Real-Time PCR analysis, which was conducted simultaneously with the conventional analysis, both before and after treatment, demonstrated the same efficacy. In conclusion, no anthelmintic resistance was observed in Strongylidae infections in thoroughbred British horses following the combination of ivermectin and praziquantel. However, in light of the potential for anthelmintic drug resistance, greater caution should be exercised in the use of antiparasitic drugs.

Keywords

• Anthelmintic resistance
• Horse
• Real-Time PCR
• Strongylidae
• Strongylus spp.

Strongylidae ile Enfekte Atlarda, İvermektin ve Praziquantele Karşı Antelmentik Direnç Durumunun Tespiti

Abstract

Günümüzde at yetiştiriciliğinde, parazitlerde antelmentik ilaçlara karşı gelişen direncin artması, at sağlığı ve antiparaziter amaçla yapılan tedavilerde ciddi sorunlar oluşturabilmektedir. Bu çalışma, atların sindirim sistemi helmintlerinden olan Strongylus spp. etkenlerine karşı, ivermektin ve praziquantelin etki düzeylerinin belirlenmesi ve bu maddelere karşı gelişebilecek bir antelmentik direnç durumunun tespit edilmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Şanlıurfa, Mersin ve Adana illerinde, safkan İngiliz atı yetiştiriciliğinin yapıldığı 30 çiftlikten, farklı yaşlarda bulunan 60 attan, dışkı örnekleri alındı ve Strongylidae yumurtaları yönünden McMaster tekniği ile incelendi. Örneklerin 20’sinde (%33,33) Strongylidae etkenlerinin yumurtalarının varlığı belirlendi. Strongylidae ile enfekte oldukları belirlenen atlara, ticari ivermektin ve praziquantel kombinasyonu sırasıyla 0,2 ve 1,5 mg/kg dozlarda oral yoldan uygulandı. Uygulamadan sonraki 14. gün, atlardan ikinci kez dışkı örnekleri alındı ve yapılan tüm analizler tekrarlandı. Kullanılan ilaç kombinasyonunun, Strongylidae etkenlerine karşı %100 oranında etkili olduğu, eş zamanlı olarak yapılan Real-Time PCR analiz sonuçlarının hem tedavi öncesi hem de sonrasında, konvansiyonel analiz sonuçları ile bire bir uyumlu olduğu belirlendi. Sonuç olarak, safkan İngiliz atlarında belirlenen Strongylidae enfeksiyonlarında, ivermektin ve praziquantel kombinasyonu uygulamasının ardından antelmentik direnç durumu kaydedilmedi. Bununla birlikte, antelmentik ilaç direncinin oluşma olasılığı göz önünde bulundurularak, antiparaziter ilaç kullanımı konusunda daha dikkatli olunması gerektiği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

• At
• Strongylus spp.
• Strongylidae
• Antelmentik direnç
• Real Time PCR

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