Detection of Strongylus vulgaris in equine faecal samples by real-time PCR and larval culture - method comparison and occurrence assessment.
Authors: Kaspar A, Pfister K, Nielsen M K, Silaghi C, Fink H, Scheuerle M C
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Strongylus vulgaris Detection in Equine Practice As anthelmintic resistance emerges in cyathostomins and ascarids, many practitioners have shifted away from the blanket prophylactic deworming that historically eliminated *Strongylus vulgaris* from equine populations—yet this highly pathogenic parasite remains a significant clinical concern. Kaspar and colleagues compared real-time PCR against traditional larval culture for detecting *S. vulgaris* in faecal samples from 501 German horses, with larval culture performed on 278 of these and serial sampling undertaken in 26 animals to assess diagnostic reproducibility and infection persistence. Real-time PCR demonstrated superior sensitivity and repeatability compared to larval culture, making it the more reliable screening tool for identifying *S. vulgaris* infections in contemporary practice where selective deworming protocols require precise diagnostics. The prevalence findings reflect the parasite's continued presence in European populations despite decades of intensive anthelmintic use, underscoring the need for accurate diagnostic methods to guide targeted treatment decisions. Given the severe pathogenic potential of *S. vulgaris* compared with other equine strongyles, practitioners should consider real-time PCR as part of their diagnostic toolkit, particularly when designing evidence-based deworming strategies and monitoring the efficacy of anthelmintic interventions in individual animals or herds.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Real-time PCR is more reliable than traditional larval culture for detecting S. vulgaris infections and should be considered for diagnostic confirmation, especially in low-prevalence regions
- •Even with historical frequent deworming, S. vulgaris has not been eliminated—targeted testing is warranted before changing deworming protocols
- •Serial fecal testing may be needed to confirm persistent infections, as single samples may miss some positive cases
Key Findings
- •Real-time PCR detected S. vulgaris in 11.4% of 501 German horses compared to 8.3% by larval culture in 278 horses
- •PCR showed superior sensitivity and reproducibility compared to larval culture for S. vulgaris detection
- •S. vulgaris remains present in German horse populations despite 50 years of prophylactic anthelmintic use
- •Follow-up examinations (n=26) demonstrated variable persistence of infections between individual horses