PPID INCREASES PARASITE RISK
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, also known as Cushing’s disease) can put horses at greater risk for intestinal parasites, according to new research from Australia.
A common condition in horses age 15 and older, PPID is a dysfunction of the pituitary gland that leads to hormonal imbalances throughout the body. In addition to a slow-toshed hair coat, muscle wasting and increased susceptibility to laminitis, a horse with PPID may have reduced immune function, increasing his susceptibility to infections.
Because the immune system can also affect the body’s ability to manage internal parasite burdens, researchers at Federation University Australia in Ballarat and the University of Melbourne set out to learn if horses with PPID
had different responses to deworming protocols than those without the condition.
The researchers performed fecal egg count (FEC) tests for 23 horses diagnosed with PPID and 27 healthy horses prior to deworming with ivermectin and then again every two weeks for nearly four months after treatment.
They found that significant numbers of parasite eggs began appearing in the manure of horses with PPID an average of two weeks earlier than in manure from non-PPID horses.
Likewise, the horses with PPID had much higher egg counts than did their healthy counterparts at six, eight and 10 weeks after treatment, which led to greater contamination of their paddocks with parasite larvae that could be ingested by other horses.
Exactly why PPID horses are more susceptible to parasite infections isn’t clear, but researchers say their findings underscore the importance being vigilant about parasite control in PPID horses and those who may be pastured with them. They recommend pasture management through manure removal, FEC monitoring and targeted use of dewormers.
Reference: “Fecal egg counts before and after ivermectin treatment in horses with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction,” Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures Proceedings, July 2019
They found that significant numbers of parasite eggs began appearing in the manure of horses with PPID an average of two weeks earlier than in manure from healthy horses.
The equine ear’s shape and configuration allow for good airflow and drainage, which make infection rare.