Pathogenicity of cyathostome infection

Area of Science:

• Equine Parasitology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Cyathostomes have emerged as the primary parasitic threat to horses, replacing large strongyles due to widespread anthelmintic use.
• Despite their prevalence, the pathogenicity of cyathostomes is increasingly recognized, leading to clinical attention.
• Clinical cyathostomosis can manifest as weight loss, diarrhea, edema, or fever, particularly in young horses during winter and spring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of cyathostome pathogenicity in horses.
• To highlight the clinical signs and clinicopathological findings associated with cyathostomosis.
• To discuss the unique biology of cyathostomes, including arrested larval development and its implications for control.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cyathostome infections in horses.
• Analysis of clinical and experimental data on cyathostome pathogenicity.
• Discussion of cyathostome larval development and anthelmintic resistance.

Main Results:

• Cyathostomes cause inflammatory enteropathy in the equine cecum and colon, with weight loss as a primary clinical sign.
• Experimental infections confirm cyathostome pathogenicity during mucosal penetration and emergence.
• Arrested larval development, lasting over two years, renders cyathostomes minimally susceptible to anthelmintics.

Conclusions:

• Cyathostomes are significant pathogens in equine health, necessitating effective diagnostic and control strategies.
• Understanding cyathostome biology, particularly arrested larval development, is crucial for managing infections.
• Development of species-specific diagnostic tools is needed to assess the impact of different cyathostome species.