Assessment of worm control practices recommended by equine veterinarians in Australia.
Authors: Abbas Ghazanfar, Stevenson Mark A, Bauquier Jenni, Beasley Anne, Jacobson Caroline, El-Hage Charles, Wilkes Edwina J A, Carrigan Peter, Cudmore Lucy, Hurley John, Beveridge Ian, Nielsen Martin K, Hughes Kristopher J, Jabbar Abdul
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
Australian equine veterinarians demonstrate solid foundational knowledge of parasite management, yet their practical recommendations diverge significantly from evidence-based guidelines, according to a 2023 survey of 118 practitioners published in *Frontiers in Veterinary Science*. Rather than employing faecal egg count (FEC) testing to guide treatment decisions—the cornerstone of sustainable parasite control—only 27% of respondents made deworming choices based on FEC results, with 40% diagnosing infections via FEC across all age groups; most instead advocated interval-based prophylactic deworming, particularly in young horses. The survey revealed additional concerns: 71% recommended macrocyclic lactones for all ages without stratification, 53% estimated anthelmintic doses visually rather than by accurate weighing, and whilst 97% recognised anthelmintic resistance (AR) as critical, 58% had no awareness of AR status on their clients' properties. With 42% of veterinarians rarely discussing worm control practices with clients and only 16–15% perceiving AR in strongylins and pinworms despite growing evidence, the findings highlight an urgent need for profession-wide education on targeted deworming protocols, accurate dosing, FEC-based decision-making, and transparent communication about resistance patterns—particularly given Australia's unique parasite epidemiology and the potential for prescription-only legislation to drive sustainable GIN management.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Most Australian equine veterinarians are not implementing evidence-based parasite management using FEC testing; request FEC-guided deworming protocols from your veterinarian rather than accepting routine interval-based treatment
- •There is a significant disconnect between veterinarian awareness of anthelmintic resistance as a problem and their actual diagnostic and treatment practices—ask your vet about AR status on your property and consider rotating drug classes
- •Visual weight estimation for anthelmintic dosing is common practice but unreliable; ensure your horse is weighed accurately on scales to optimize drug efficacy and reduce resistance development
Key Findings
- •Only 40% of veterinarians diagnose GIN infections based on faecal egg count (FEC) results across all age groups
- •Only 27% of respondents make deworming decisions based on FEC results, with most recommending interval-based prophylactic deworming instead
- •71% of veterinarians recommend macrocyclic lactones for all age groups despite concerns about anthelmintic resistance
- •97% of respondents recognize anthelmintic resistance as critical but 58% are unaware of resistance status on their clients' properties