Equine Parasites Flashcards
Define Colic
Colic refers to abdominal pain. Is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and has many causes.
Name the 4 classes of GI parasites in horses
Large Strongyles
Anoplocephala perfoliata
Parascaris equorum
Cyathostomes (Small Strongyles)
Where do adult strongyles reside in horses?
Cecum and colon
Name the 3 members of the Large Strongyle family
Strongylus vulgaris
Strongylus edentatus
Strongylus equinus
How do S. Vulgaris larvae travel? What are the symptoms of infection?
S. vulgaris larvae travel along the arteries and end up in the intestines.
Symptoms: thrombosis, inflammation, infarction, and necrosis of intestines
How do S. Edentatus larvae travel? Are there always clinical signs associated?
Travel via the hepatic portal vein and then the mesentery, to the large intestine.
May or may not cause clinical signs.
How do S. equinus travel? Are there always clinical signs associated?
Travel back and forth between large intestine and liver.
May or may not cause clinical signs.
What is another name for the “equine tapeworm” ?
Anoplocephala perfoliata
What region of the GI tract do Anoplocephala perfiolata inhabit? What are signs of an infestation?
The ileocecal junction.
Can produce ulcerations of the mucosa, and MAY cause intussusception.
Which Equine parasite is also known as a “roundworm” or “ascarid” ?
Parascaris equorum.
Why does Parascaris equorum mainly only cause disease in foals/young horses?
Adults develop immunity to ascarids.
What are the side effects of Parascaris equorum in foals?
ill-thrift (slow growth rate), poor weight gain, and intestinal impaction.
What is the name of the disease cause by Cyathostome (small strongyles) in adult horses? What are the main symptoms?
Larval Cyathostomiasis, causes severe diarrhea, weight loss, hypoproteinemia, and possibly death.
In which seasons are there are large number of larval cyathostomiasis cases? Why?
Late winter and spring, associated with a large number of 4th stage larvae in the intestinal mucosa.
Dictyocaulus arnfieldi is known as what type of parasite? What’s an alternate name for it?
Respiratory parasite, also known as an “equine lung worm”
