“We knew we needed to act quickly.”
A new test for large redworm - the most dangerous intestinal parasite affecting horses – has been launched.
In a UK first, parasite control specialist Westgate Labs is offering larval culturing for large strongyles as a commercial test.
“When we started seeing confirmed cases of large redworm in UK horses, alarm bells started ringing,” said Kristy Hodgson, business director at Westgate Labs.
“We knew we needed to act quickly to provide a reliable way to identify these infections before they cause serious harm.”
The new test allows vets, prescribers and horse owners to screen for large strongyles without over-relying on blanket treatment with wormers.
Traditional faecal worm egg counts cannot distinguish between small and large strongyle eggs; whereas under culture testing, larvae are hatched for identification and counting.
“We want to empower owners and prescribers with the tools to make informed decisions and not be forced back to over-worming as a precaution,” said Kristy.
“This innovation sharpens our insight, allowing us to stay ahead of parasite threats while tackling resistance in the right way.”
Large redworm larvae spend part of their life cycle in the horse’s blood vessels. They can cause potentially fatal colic, haemorrhage and intestinal obstruction - often before signs appear.
The new test is available on request to prescribers (including qualified SQPs/RAMAs) who use Westgate Labs’ merchant service.
Each test kit includes the means to take faecal samples and a postpaid return envelope plus follow-up support.
- Find out more about the resurgence of large redworm in UK horses in ETN’s September issue via our latest AMTRA accredited CPD feature. Reading the feature and successfully completing the accompanying quiz will enable SQPs/RAMAs to earn AMTRA CPD points.
