nematodes in horse and swine

Habronema spp (horse)

• common name: stomach worm

• signs: gastritis/gastric tumors, poor growth, summer sores (on face), ulcerative conjunctivitis

• intermediate host: flies

• diagnosis: fecal float

• treatment: ivermectin or moxidectin

Trichostrongylus axei and Strongylus vulgaris (horse)

• common name: bloodworm

• location: cecum and colon

• signs: subclinical; reduced weight, diarrhea, colic hypoproteinemia

• diagnostic: fecal float

• necropsy: aneurysm of cranial mesenteric artery

treatment for large strongyles (horses)

ivermectin or moxidecin every 6 months

Parascaris equorum (horse)

• common name: roundworm

• location: small intestine

• signs: liver/lung damage, poor growth, colic, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction

• diagnostic: fecal float

• treatment: fenbendazole, ivermectin, pyrantal

Strongyloides westeri (horse)

• common name: intestinal threadworm

• location: small intestine

• signs: only in foal; diarrhea, dehydration, respiratory signs

• diagnostic: fecal float, baermann technique

• zoonotic cutaneous larva

• treatment: ivermectin

Oxyuris equine (horse)

• common name: pinworm

• location: large intestine

• signs: pruritus of anal region, tail rubbing, behavior issues

• diagnostic: cellophane tape test

• treatment: moxidectin, piperazine, pyrantel

Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (horse)

• common name: equine lungworm

• location: bronchi/bronchioles

• signs: cough, bronchitis, pneumonia

• diagnostic: fecal float

Physocephalus sexalatus (swine)

• common name: stomach worm of pigs

• intermediate host: beetles

• signs: gastritis, anemia, diarrhea, weight loss

• diagnostic: fecal sediment, fecal float

• treatment: ivermectin, fenbendazole

Hyostrongylus rubidus (swine)

• common name: red stomach worm

• signs: ulcerative gastritis, anemia, dehydration, poor production

• diagnostic: fecal float, fecal culture

• treatment: ivermectin, dichlorvos

Ascaris suum (swine)

• common name: roundworm

• location: small intestine

• signs: liver migration, predisposition to viral/bacterial pneumonia, poor growth

• eggs survive for years

• diagnostic: fecal float; milk spot in liver (necropsy)

• treatment: fenbendazole, ivermectin

Strongyloides ransomi (swine)

• common name: intestinal threadworm

• location: small intestine

• route of infection: skin penetration or colostrum

• signs: diarrhea, emaciation, anemia, stunted growth, death

• diagnostic: fecal float; mucosal scraping reveal adult female (necropsy)

• treatment: dichlorvos, ivermectin

• zoonotic

Oesophagostomum dentatum (swine)

• common name: nodular worm of pigs

• location: large intestine

• signs: nodules in gut wall large intestine, poor growth, enteritis

• diagnostic: fecal float; adults in large intestine (necropsy)

• treatment: ivermectin, pyrantel, dichlorvos

Trichuris suis (swine)

• common name: whipworm of pigs

• location: large intestine

• signs: bloody diarrhea, stunted growth, rectal prolapse, poor growth

• diagnostic: fecal float; adults in large intestine (necropsy)

• treatment: change quarters, fenbendazole, ivermectin, dichlorvos

Trichinella spiralis (swine)

• common name: trichina worm

• location: small intestine

• route of infection: contaminated raw/undercooked pork

• pigs can be definitive and intermediate host

• diagnostic: biopsy of muscle tissue

• zoonotic

Metastrongylus spp (swine)

• common name: swine lungworm

• location: bronchi/bronchioles

• intermediate host: earthworm

• signs: coughing, poor growth

• diagnostic: fecal float, fecal sedimentation; adults in lungs (necropsy)

• treatment: fenbendazole, ivermectin

Stephanurus dentatus (swine)

• common name: swine kidney worm

• location: cystic spaces connected to kidney, ureters, perirenal tissue

• intermediate host: earthworm

• signs: anorexia, decreased growth, weight loss

• diagnostic: urine sediment