Strategies of Equine Helminth Control in the Far East Region of Russia: A Pilot Study

Introduction. Equine helminthiasis, especially in the context of parasite resistance growth, remains an acute issue in the veterinary practices. In Russia, despite the availability of international guidelines, there are still no enough data on the parasite control measures really taken by the veterinary specialists and animal owners. The present pilot study aims at evaluating the level of awareness of horse owners and veterinary specialists about the advanced methods of combating helminth infections, as well as at analysing approaches to deworming and determining the possibility of using targeted treatment strategies in the Far East Region. The main objective is to identify the contradictions between the existing practices and scientific recommendations on prevention of anthelmintic resistance.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in September–October 2024 and was based on a questionnaire survey held among horse owners and veterinary specialists in the Far East Region of Russia. Several owners from other regions were interviewed to compare deworming practices. In total, 148 people participated in the survey. Online questionnaires and individual interviews were used to collect data. Questionnaires included the questions about frequency and methods of deworming, the use of diagnostic tests, knowledge about resistance and sources of getting information. To identify statistical relationships, the data were processed using the methods of descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Results. In the frame of the study, it was found that in the Far East the methods of interval deworming of horses were the most popular among the horse owners and veterinarians. Respondents were highly aware of the problem of anthelmintic resistance (73.13% among the owners and 78.57% among the veterinarians), but only 17.56% of the owners used the Faecal Egg Count (FEC) prior to deworming. Frequent consultations provided by the veterinarians did not much help to persuade the owners to implement the diagnostic tests or adhere to the quarantine measures. 72.39% of owners and 75% of veterinarians preferred using the macrocyclic lactones, which could exacerbate the risk of anthelmintic resistance development. However, the use of the anthelmintics rotation practices by the majority of owners (82.14%) and veterinarians (71.43%) makes it possible to feel optimistic. Logistic regression has revealed that knowledge on parasitic diseases has a positive effect on the use of FECs.

Discussion and Conclusion. The pilot study revealed the gaps between the knowledge on helminth control methods and their practical implementation. The majority of owners and veterinarians are aware of the problem of anthelmintic resistance, however diagnostic testing remains insufficient. To efficiently combat parasites, it is necessary to increase the quality of consultation services and implement the targeted deworming practices based on diagnostic tests.

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