University encourages horse owners to take part in national equine wormer survey – University of Reading
17 July 2008Horse owners are being encouraged to take part in the first major national survey into wormer resistance in horses at the University of Reading. The research is being carried out by VEERU (Veterinary Epidemiological and Economics Research Unit) at the University, where veterinary scientists and academics have expert knowledge of the science of epidemiology, which seeks to explain the reasons why a particular disease acts the way it does in a population of animals.
Current strategies which exist to control intestinal parasites (helminths) in horses, as well as in most agricultural and companion animal species, are not sustainable. This is mainly because of increasing resistance to pharmaceutical wormers, which is made worse by the inappropriate use of wormers and under-use of beneficial management strategies. This research is being carried out because the general patterns of equine wormer use are not known. This information is important when studying the development of resistant strains.
Keith Allison, an Animal Health and Welfare Specialist at VEERU, said "this new study will enable a better understanding of the problem of resistance to pharmaceutical wormers. The outcomes from the research will help us to provide improved information for horse owners about the most effective approach for them in order to control helminth infections. In addition to the survey, the research also involves laboratory analysis to determine the susceptibility of the parasites to various chemical compounds.
"Since 1977, VEERU has been involved in many projects for government organisations both here and abroad including foot and mouth disease, badgers and TB, rabies, and avian influenza. Such work is vital, not only in the control of important diseases, but also for improvement of sustainable animal health and welfare through integration of optimum management practices."
The survey is being conducted on-line and horse owners are encouraged to take part in this by logging on to www.veeru.reading.ac.uk and following the link from the VEERU home page to a short anonymous questionnaire.
Notes to editors
For more information contact Keith Allison k.allison@reading.ac.uk