Virtually all horses are infected with helminth parasites. For some decades, the control of parasites of Swedish horses has been based on routine treatments with anthelmintics, often several times per year. Since anthelmintic resistance is becoming an increasing problem it is essential to develop more sustainable control strategies, which are adapted to different types of horse management. The aim of this study was to obtain information on practices used by Swedish horse owners for the control of endoparasites.

All grazing horses are exposed to intestinal parasites, which have the potential to cause gastrointestinal disease. In Sweden, there is a concern about an increase in parasite-related equine gastrointestinal disease, in particular Strongylus vulgaris, since the implementation of prescription-only anthelmintics approximately 10 years ago. In a prospective case–control study, parasitological status, using fecal analyses for strongyle egg counts, the presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata eggs and S. vulgaris Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as serology for S. vulgaris, were compared between horses presenting with or without gastrointestinal disease at a University hospital during a one-year period. Information regarding anthelmintic routines and pasture management was gathered with an owner-filled questionnaire. Although the prevalence of S. vulgaris PCR was 5.5%, 62% of horses were positive in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and horses with peritonitis showed higher antibody levels for S. vulgaris, as compared to other diagnoses or controls. Overall, 36% of the horse owners used only fecal egg counts (FEC), 32% used FEC combined with specific diagnostics for S. vulgaris or A. perfoliata, and 29% dewormed routinely without prior parasite diagnostics. Effective management methods to reduce the parasitic burden on pastures were rare and considering exposure to S. vulgaris appears high; the study indicates a need for education in specific fecal diagnostics and pasture management.

In the last few years stud farms have experienced increasing problems with Parascaris equorum infections in foals despite intensive deworming programs. This has led to the question as to whether the anthelmintic drugs used against this parasite are failing. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of ivermectin, fenbendazole and pyrantel on the faecal output of ascarid eggs of foals.

A severe regenerative anemia was detected in a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in Sweden.

The global pig production has undergone major changes over the past 30 years with larger farms, more intensified production as well as improved hygiene and biosecurity practices. To investigate whether these changes, along with expanded pig welfare, have had an impact on parasite occurrence, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden on farms where the pigs are always loose-housed, floors are solid and bedding material is provided. A total of 1615 faecal samples were collected on 42 conventional indoor farms from a) post-weaning piglets (n = 337); b) growers (n = 345); c) fatteners (n = 308); d) dry sows (n = 277) and e) pre-partum sows (n = 348). Samples were analysed using centrifugal flotation with a saturated glucose-salt solution and a modified McMaster technique, with a lower detection limit of 50 eggs or oocysts per gram. Samples positive for strongyle-type eggs were cultured to third stage larvae for genus identification. Farms also responded to a questionnaire regarding biosecurity, hygienic measures, and other management routines. Risk factors for parasite occurrence were assessed using mixed-effects logistical regression to account for farm-level clustering of samples. Interestingly, the prevalence of Ascaris suum was reduced compared to a similar investigation in the 1980s. In the present study A. suum was detected only in 43 % of the herds, with the highest prevalence in pre-partum sows (37 %) followed by fatteners (25 %). Small sized farms were associated with higher odds of being positive, compared to large sized farms (OR = 159.1, P = 0.010). Oesophagostomum spp. were detected in 64 % of the herds and again mainly in pre-partum sows (63 %). Trichuris suis was detected in 10 % of the herds but only in <1% of the samples. Moreover, Cystoisospora suis and Eimeria spp. were detected on 60 % and 64 % the farms, with the highest prevalence in post-weaning piglets and sows, respectively. Anthelmintic drugs (ivermectin or fenbendazole) were commonly used and administered mainly to pre-partum sows on 93 % of the farms. Toltrazuril against neonatal coccidiosis was administered to piglets on 14 % of the farms. The use of antiparasitic drugs did not significantly affect parasite prevalence. Overall, it appears that the altered farming routines with focus on improved pig welfare have not solely resulted in a higher occurrence of parasites, most likely due to the adequate biosecurity and hygiene practices instituted. Thus, there seems to be no conflict between implementing measures to promote pig welfare and adequately control the more pathogenic and economically important parasites.