Parasites are a significant threat to the healthiness of cattle and livestock. Although we use the example of a horse throughout , the worms and parasites discussed apply similarly to other livestock.

A single horse can be susceptible to over 60 sorts of parasite and may harbour one or two different species of worms at any one time. The consequences of internal bugs are considerably more evident in young and seemingly undernourished animals.

Egg Count

A young horse with an egg count of 2,000 eggs per gram of faeces — not a uncommon amount — can discharge up to 25 million eggs per day. You read that right twenty five million. This creates an almost instant source of infection for other close by horses in the pasture or the stables. Although the eggs are invisible to the human eye, a proper microscopic investigation into a horse’s fecal droppings may exhibit more then you bargained for. Evidencing parasite eggs can help you work out what parasite types may be present and estimate the extent of the infection.

Many of the products used to eliminate internal parasites in animals have become redundant through overuse and misuse. Fear of the negative impact that parasites can bring about could cause an over-reaction that is self-defeating.

Life Cycle

Most worms begin their lives as eggs, quiclky maturing into larvae. Young worms can within weeks become adults that in turn lay eggs, starting this life cycle again. As an egg or larva, once inside the horse’s digestive organs, each adopts a unique pattern of migration and reproduction, most often ending up in the colon. The majority of worms are defecated within the horse’s manure; other, nearby grazing horses will consume those eggs.

Of the many telltale signs that verify parasitic activity, colic can suggest a significant infestation as can underweight, poor growth or coat shine.

Roundworm

The Parascaris equorum or roundworm is one of the first parasites that infest young foals. Growing anything up to 12-15 inches long, they typically remain as eggs until ingested. Found anywhere in the surrounding environment they are lined with an adhesive protein that helps them stick to all sorts of surfaces – barn walls, buckets, troughs, a horse’s mane and even a mare’s udder if she lies down on the dirt. A foal can be infected by eating hay, nursing or simply brushing up against a fence post.

Once ingested, the eggs hatch inside the small intestine. Larvae penetrates the stomach tissue and enters the bloodstream travelling to any part of the horse’s body. Much damage is inflicted during the migration itself. From the liver they reach the heart, enter the lungs then the windpipe where they’re coughed up before being swallowed into the gut. Pneumonia is not uncommon in a compromised lung. It takes 10 to 12 weeks for roundworm to conclude this cycle . Most foals become overrun by larvae fairly quickly after birth; most worms are maturing when foals are 2 – 3 months old.

A serious infestation of roundworm often causes blockages in the colon, leading to obvious digestive difficulties.

Bloodworm

In certain countries blood worms are thought to be the most damaging parasite to horses. The prolific nature of blood worms makes them seem to withstand the application of conventional de-worming medicines. As adults, blood worms become voracious blood suckers causing anaemia, diarrhoea, and damage to the abdominal lining at the same time settling in the lower bowel and surrounding arteries where they irritate and inflame, causing parasitic aneurysm. The flow of blood is usually impaired sometimes giving rise to a rupture or in severe cases, the horse’s untimely death from internal bleeding. Lameness is an indicator of blood clots from parasites lodged in the arteries of the rear legs.

It takes approximately 6 months for the maturing worms to finish their migration before settling in the large intestine. Foals less than 6 months old will give sanctuary to blood worms as they migrate.

Pinworm

Adult pinworm live in the rectum of horses. Female worms migrate to the anus to leave their eggs in a cement-like mix. This “egg-cement” dries, cracks, and together with the eggs, detaches from the outer skin in flakes causing irritation, appalling itching and restlessness.

The affected horse rubs its tail on any nearby object, causing a characteristic “rat-tail appearance.” Severe rubbing may lead to further irritation and secondary infection of the anus, tail and surrounding skin. Pinworm are rather more a bother than a threat. As horses rub their rear ends and tails on close by objects, the eggs are deposited to await another horse that licks the object, consuming the egg.

Tapeworm

Tapeworm are different from other internal worms. Female tapeworm do not lay eggs. Instead , tapeworm segments containing eggs break off inside the digestive tract which are then passed in the fecal matter.

Second, tapeworms have an indirect life cycle. Before they become infective to a host, they evolve from an indirect host. For example a horse passes eggs in its manure; mites in the pasture ingest these eggs. The eggs hatch and become larvae that are infective to horses. As the horse is grazing, the mites containing the infective larvae are ingested after which they migrate to ileocecal valve. After 6 to 12 weeks the mites start shedding segments full of eggs. If not eliminated, chronic conditions could lead to expensive surgery.

Threadworm

Threadworm essentially affects foals, sometimes ingested from larvae present in a mare’s milk. Threadworm larvae are found in mare’s milk from 4 to 40 days after foaling; foals may become badly infected by three weeks of age, shown by diarrhoea and indigestion.

Bots

Bots are the larvae of flies that have become highly specialized as parasites of horses. Female flies lay up to 900 eggs in as little as three hours, gluing them to the hairs of the horse’s mane or body. Horses can sense when flies are attempting to lay eggs and react by continually moving and throwing their heads violently. Riders have commented that during this phase, horses become temporarily uncontrollable.

Although there are different sorts of bot fly, the common bot lays its eggs on the hairs of the horse’s front legs. Hatching usually happens when the bots are rubbed by the moist lips of the host. The larvae emerge during this process and stick to the mucous membrane in the mouth, afterward penetrating the mouth, lips, gums and tongue before migrating to the bowel.

The presence of significant numbers of bot flies cause damage to the lining of the intestines, with a resultant deprivation of nutrients. In cases of heavy infestation, death may occur.

On any farm, ranch or estate Pareto’s law applies – 20% of the horses shed 80% of the parasites. If you can identify the hosts, you can create an effective de-worming schedule. Instead of de-worming every animal more frequently than is required you can de-worm the animals that shed the most eggs. This practice will save you a substantial outlay of time, effort and money.

Strongly recommended for getting rid of worms from animals of all shapes and size is Critter Cleanse, a five hundred year old broad spectrum herbal formula originating in Traditional Phoenicia.

From a family of Clydeside Scots, Graeme was born and brought up in Hong Kong. He lived for 35 years there, as well as in Borneo and Indonesia. Intrigued by the way in which the different Asian cultures approach their health and well-being, he studied aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine and became familiar with many other ancient healing methods, from the traditional Jamu herbal medicine healers of Java to the body balancing mechanisms of Jin Shin Jyutsu, from Japan. Together with his wife Phylipa, Graeme runs Resources For Life, a natural health business in Chichester, West Sussex. Much of what is available on their web site has origins steeped in ancient wisdom.

For more information on Critter Cleanse, a broad spectrum, anti-parasite natural herbal formula click here.

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