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Parasites In Horses, Cattle And Other Livestock

Unwanted parasites are a major threat to the health of cattle and livestock. Although we use the example of a horse throughout , the parasites amd worms mentioned apply similarly to other livestock.

A single horse can be susceptible to over 60 sorts of worm and may harbor a few different kinds of worms at any particular time. The results of internal bugs are significantly more prevalent in young and seemingly undernourished horses.

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 each day. You read that right 25 million. This creates an immediate source of infection for other close by animals in the pasture or the stables. Though the eggs aren't visible to the human eye, a proper microscopic investigation of a horse's fecal droppings may show more then you believed possible. Evidencing parasite eggs can help you work out what parasite type is present and estimate the scope of the condition.

Many of the products used to eliminate intestinal parasites in horses have become ineffectual through overuse and misuse. Fear of the damaging impact that parasites can bring about may cause an over-reaction that's counter productive.

Life Cycle

Most worms begin their lives as eggs, quiclky maturing into larvae. Young worms can swiftly become adults that in turn lay eggs, recommencing this life cycle all over again. As an egg or larva, once inside the horse's digestive organs, each adopts a different strategy of migration and reproduction, generally ending up in the digestive tract. The majority of worms are defecated within the horse's fecal matter; other, nearby grazing horses will likely ingest those eggs.

Of the many signs that substantiate parasitic activity, colic can suggest a serious infestation as can underweight, poor growth or coat shine.

Roundworm

The Parascaris equorum or roundworm is one of the first parasites that infect young foals. Growing anything up to 12-15 inches long, they usually remain as eggs until ingested. Found anywhere in the surrounding environment they are covered with an adhesive protein that helps them stick to all types 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 within the small intestines. Larvae penetrates the stomach tissue and enters the bloodstream travelling to any part of the horse's body. Much damage is inflicted during the migration itself. From the liver they reach the heart, enter the lungs then the wind pipe where they are 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 plagued by larvae right after birth; most worms are maturing when foals are two to three months of age.

A serious infestation of roundworm often causes obstructions in the colon, leading to conspicuous digestive difficulties.

Bloodworm

In certain countries blood worms are considered to be the most hazardous parasite to horses. The prolific nature of blood worms makes them seem to tolerate the effects of typical de-worming drugs. As adults, blood worms become voracious blood suckers causing anaemia, dysentery, and damage to the gut lining at the same time settling in the lower bowel and surrounding arteries where they irritate and inflame, causing parasitic aneurysm. The blood flow is usually diminished sometimes resulting in a rupture or in extreme cases, the horse's death from internal bleeding. Lameness is an indicator of blood clots from parasites lodged in the arteries of the rear legs.

It takes approximately 6 months for the maturing worms to finish their migration before settling in the large intestine. Foals less than 6 months old will unknowingly provide shelter for blood worms as they migrate.

Pinworm

Adult pinworm live in the rectum of horses. Female worms migrate to the anus to leave their eggs in a cement-like deposit. This "egg-cement" dries, cracks, and along with the eggs, detaches from the outer 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 lead to further irritation and secondary infection of the anus, tail and surrounding skin. Pinworm are rather more a bother than a threat. As horses rub their rear ends and tails on close by objects, the eggs are deposited to await another animal that licks the object, swallowing the egg.

Tapeworm

Tapeworm are different to other internal worms. Female tapeworm don't lay eggs. Instead , tapeworm segments containing eggs break off inside the digestive tract which are then passed in the fecal matter.

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 become 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, persistent conditions may result in avoidable surgery.

Threadworm

Threadworm primarily affects foals, sometimes 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 2-3 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 are attempting to lay eggs and react by continually moving and throwing their heads vigorously. Riders have commented that during this phase, horses become temporarily unmanageable.

Although there are various sorts 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 attach to the mucous membrane in the mouth, thereafter penetrating the mouth, lips, gums and tongue before migrating to the digestive tract.

The presence of significant numbers of bot flies cause considerable damage to the lining of the intestines, with a resultant deprivation of nutrients. In cases of heavy infestation, death may happen.

On any estate, farm or ranch Pareto's law applies - 20% of the horses shed 80% of the bugs. If you can identify the hosts, you can create a good de-worming schedule. Instead of de-worming every horse more often than is required you can de-worm the horses that shed the most eggs. This practice will save you a considerable outlay of time, effort and money.

Highly recommended for getting rid of parasites 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 well-being, 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. Together with his wife Phylipa, Graeme runs Resources For Life, a natural health business in Chichester, West Sussex. Much of what is available on their site has origins steeped in ancient wisdom.

For more information on Critter Cleanse, a broad-spectrum, anti-parasite natural herbal formula click here.

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