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What is the prepatent period for Parascaris equorum?
What is the prepatent period for Parascaris equorum?
Which age group is primarily affected by Parascaris equorum?
Which age group is primarily affected by Parascaris equorum?
What is a key clinical sign of a patent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
What is a key clinical sign of a patent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
Where do adult Parascaris equorum worms primarily reside in the horse?
Where do adult Parascaris equorum worms primarily reside in the horse?
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What can result from a heavy burden of Parascaris equorum in foals?
What can result from a heavy burden of Parascaris equorum in foals?
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How does the infective stage of P.equorum reach the next definitive host?
How does the infective stage of P.equorum reach the next definitive host?
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Which diagnostic method is used to identify migrating larvae of P.equorum?
Which diagnostic method is used to identify migrating larvae of P.equorum?
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What type of transmission is primarily involved in the life cycle of Parascaris equorum?
What type of transmission is primarily involved in the life cycle of Parascaris equorum?
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What effect do migrating larvae of P.equorum have on host tissue?
What effect do migrating larvae of P.equorum have on host tissue?
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Which treatment is effective against Parascaris equorum?
Which treatment is effective against Parascaris equorum?
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What is the recommended age to begin treatment for foals with anthelmintics?
What is the recommended age to begin treatment for foals with anthelmintics?
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What can happen if anthelmintics that paralyze ascarids are administered to heavily infested foals?
What can happen if anthelmintics that paralyze ascarids are administered to heavily infested foals?
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Why is prevention of P.equorum infestations difficult?
Why is prevention of P.equorum infestations difficult?
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What is one of the recommended sanitation practices before foaling?
What is one of the recommended sanitation practices before foaling?
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At what age do infestation rates in foals significantly decline?
At what age do infestation rates in foals significantly decline?
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What is the role of high-pressure steam-cleaning regarding P.equorum ova?
What is the role of high-pressure steam-cleaning regarding P.equorum ova?
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What does coprophagic behavior in foals primarily help with?
What does coprophagic behavior in foals primarily help with?
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What is a common characteristic of female P.equorum in terms of egg laying?
What is a common characteristic of female P.equorum in terms of egg laying?
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What should be done to a mare just before she gives birth?
What should be done to a mare just before she gives birth?
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Which statement correctly reflects the longevity of immunity in horses?
Which statement correctly reflects the longevity of immunity in horses?
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What is the consequence of larvae migration through the liver and lungs caused by Parascaris equorum?
What is the consequence of larvae migration through the liver and lungs caused by Parascaris equorum?
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What are the characteristic ova of Parascaris equorum important for diagnosing patent infestation?
What are the characteristic ova of Parascaris equorum important for diagnosing patent infestation?
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What is a clinical sign associated with prepatent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
What is a clinical sign associated with prepatent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
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What is a potential severe consequence of heavy infestations of Parascaris equorum in foals?
What is a potential severe consequence of heavy infestations of Parascaris equorum in foals?
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What role does the tracheal migration of the larvae play in the life cycle of Parascaris equorum?
What role does the tracheal migration of the larvae play in the life cycle of Parascaris equorum?
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During what time frame after ingestion do the ova of Parascaris equorum become infective?
During what time frame after ingestion do the ova of Parascaris equorum become infective?
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How does the age of the horse influence the immune response to Parascaris equorum?
How does the age of the horse influence the immune response to Parascaris equorum?
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What is an effective method for empirical treatment of suspected prepatent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
What is an effective method for empirical treatment of suspected prepatent infestation of Parascaris equorum?
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What are the expected health effects of patently infested foals from Parascaris equorum?
What are the expected health effects of patently infested foals from Parascaris equorum?
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What timeframe should foals begin treatment with anthelmintics after birth?
What timeframe should foals begin treatment with anthelmintics after birth?
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Why is it important to administer lower doses of benzimidazoles to heavily infested foals?
Why is it important to administer lower doses of benzimidazoles to heavily infested foals?
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What is a significant challenge in preventing Parascaris equorum infestation in foals?
What is a significant challenge in preventing Parascaris equorum infestation in foals?
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What environmental measures are recommended to reduce the risk of P.equorum infestations?
What environmental measures are recommended to reduce the risk of P.equorum infestations?
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What is a common behavior of foals that contributes to the spread of Parascaris equorum?
What is a common behavior of foals that contributes to the spread of Parascaris equorum?
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At what age does the infestation rate in foals typically see a significant decline?
At what age does the infestation rate in foals typically see a significant decline?
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What happens to the immunity against P.equorum as horses mature?
What happens to the immunity against P.equorum as horses mature?
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What should be done to the mare immediately before she gives birth to manage P.equorum?
What should be done to the mare immediately before she gives birth to manage P.equorum?
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Which method is ineffective in eliminating P.equorum ova from the environment?
Which method is ineffective in eliminating P.equorum ova from the environment?
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What is a significant outcome of a heavy infestation of Parascaris equorum in foals when treated improperly?
What is a significant outcome of a heavy infestation of Parascaris equorum in foals when treated improperly?
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Study Notes
Parascaris equorum
- Largest equine parasite, up to 10 inches long
- Direct life cycle
- Prepatent period: 3 months
- Primarily infects nursing and weaned foals under 1 year old
- Adults reside in the small intestine
- Can occupy significant space, potentially causing obstruction and rupture
- Age-related immunity develops against P. equorum
P. equorum Life Cycle
- Highly resistant, sticky eggs passed in feces
- Eggs become infective within approximately 10 days
- Fecal-oral transmission (ingestion of infective eggs)
- Larvae hatch in the small intestine, migrate through the intestinal wall to the liver
- Larvae then travel to the lungs, across into the alveoli
- Larvae crawl up the trachea, are swallowed, and migrate to the small intestine
- Mature into adults
- Prepatent period: 3 months
Pathology
- Migrating larvae cause tissue damage
- Inflammatory tracts form in the liver
- Inflammatory nodules form in the lungs
- Lesions eventually heal, but functional capacity can be reduced, particularly in the lungs
Clinical Signs
- Prepatent infestation (larvae): Foals infested at birth may display clinical signs within 4–6 weeks (cough, nasal discharge, "verminous pneumonia")
- Patent infestation (adults): Older foals present with diarrhea, flatulence, lethargy, poor body condition ("poor doer"), rough hair coat, and enlarged abdomens; reduced weight gain or loss; colic
- Death can result from impaction and intestinal rupture causing fatal peritonitis
Diagnosis
- Prepatent infestation: Foals displaying coughing, nasal discharge; tracheal wash to collect migrating larvae; empirical treatment with anthelmintics and monitoring for improvement; diagnosis sometimes made at necropsy
- Patent infestation: Fecal float with characteristic (thick shelled, small/smooth shelled) ova
Treatment
- Many effective deworming agents (ivermectin, moxidectin, fenbendazole, oxibendazole, pyrantel)
- Treatment in foals older than 8 weeks, administer at 2-month intervals during their first year of life
- Treatment warning: Anthelmintics causing paralysis in adult worms can cause impaction. Administer lower doses and repeat after 10-14 days if needed
Prevention
- Difficult to prevent due to resistance of ova, longevity, and frequent environmental presence.
- Female worms lay millions of eggs daily in feces
- Eggs resist freezing and drying, survive various environmental factors and remain infective for extended periods
- Chemical disinfectants do not always kill the ova
- Steam cleaning is effective for destroying ova
- Wash mares' udder and teats before parturition (birth) to prevent contamination of neonates
Age-Related Immunity
- Infestation rates in foals decrease significantly by 6 months due to age-related resistance and a potent immune response
- By 12 months, apparent infestations in horses are not common
- Immunity lasts throughout their adult lives
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Description
This quiz covers the essential aspects of the largest equine parasite, Parascaris equorum. Learn about its life cycle, pathology, and the impact on young horses. Test your knowledge of this significant parasite affecting foals under one year old.