Inclusion of Sainfoin in the Diet Might Alter Strongyle Infection in Naturally Infected Horses.
Authors: Grimm Pauline, Laroche Noémie, Julliand Samy, Sorci Gabriele
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Sainfoin as a Potential Strongyle Control Strategy Rising anthelmintic resistance in equine strongyles necessitates exploration of alternative parasite management approaches, prompting researchers to evaluate sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), a polyphenol-rich legume, as a dietary intervention in naturally infected horses. Over 12 weeks, 17 horses were divided into three groups matched for baseline faecal egg count (FEC): a control group receiving hay and wheat bran, and two sainfoin groups where dehydrated sainfoin pellets replaced either 50% or 100% of the wheat bran component. Weekly FEC monitoring and larval motility assessments from faecal cultures revealed that horses receiving complete sainfoin substitution (SF2) demonstrated significantly reduced FEC between days 7 and 28, with larvae from both sainfoin groups showing reduced motility throughout the study period, regardless of timing relative to fenbendazole treatment on day 28. Whilst the dietary intervention did not improve FEC outcomes following anthelmintic administration, the documented suppression of larval viability and early-stage FEC reduction suggests sainfoin possesses in vivo anthelmintic properties that warrant further investigation as a complementary parasite control tool—particularly relevant for farms developing resistance challenges, though practitioners should recognise the effect appears variable and context-dependent rather than a standalone replacement for strategic deworming protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Sainfoin supplementation may reduce strongyle burden in naturally infected horses, particularly before anthelmintic treatment; consider as a complementary strategy to synthetic drugs
- •Full replacement of grain with sainfoin pellets appeared more effective than partial replacement; trial sainfoin inclusion in farms with documented anthelmintic resistance
- •The effect appears to work through reducing larval viability rather than preventing infection; timing of sainfoin feeding relative to anthelmintic treatment may matter
Key Findings
- •Horses in the SF2 group (100% sainfoin replacement of wheat bran) showed significantly lower fecal egg counts from Day 7 to Day 28 compared to control
- •Larvae from sainfoin-consuming horses demonstrated reduced motility both before and after fenbendazole treatment, suggesting direct anthelmintic activity
- •The anthelmintic effect of sainfoin was context-dependent and diminished after chemical anthelmintic treatment