Constraints of Effective Helminth Management in Working Equine Populations

There are estimated to be over 100 million working equines (horses, donkeys, and mules) in the developing world. These animals are working in rural, suburban, and urban areas as draught animals for goods and people transportation, farming animals and pack animals. In many situations these animals endure harsh living and working conditions often lacking their essential needs for food, water and shelter. The effective management of internal parasite infestation can contribute to the improved welfare of working equines. However, whilst current research has led to an increased focus on preventative and strategic parasite management in the developed world, these approaches are less understood and accepted in the working equine context. Can strategies appropriate in the European/American context be applied in the working equine population of developing countries? A significant limiting factor in the development and application of strategic helminth management practices for working equine populations is the limited level of context specific research. Internal parasite field research is scarce, focusing mainly on demonstrating the incidence of certain parasites. The information really needed is  […]