The UK’s first commercially-available test for large strongyles (redworms) in horses has been released following an increase of this potentially fatal parasite on yards in Europe.
Developed by Westgate Labs and released in June, the new test provides a practical solution for horse owners to monitor for the re-emergence of large redworm, the most dangerous intestinal parasite affecting horse health.
Large strongyle larvae spend a part of their life cycle in the horse’s blood vessels and can cause life-threatening damage, including colic, haemorrhage and intestinal infarction — often before any signs appear in the affected horse.
Empowering horse owners
“When we started seeing confirmed cases of large redworm in UK horses, alarm bells started ringing.
“We knew we needed to act quickly to provide a reliable way to identify these infections before they cause serious harm,” said business director Kristy Hodgson.
“Over the past year, we’ve supported selected yards and veterinary practices in piloting larval culture testing. We’re now proud to launch this as a national service.
“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.
“This innovation sharpens our insight, allowing us to stay ahead of parasite threats while tackling resistance in the right way.”
How testing works
Current best practice for worm management on yards is regular faecal worm egg counts (FWEC), which test for the presence of small redworm (cyathostomin) egg secretion.
However, FWECs cannot distinguish between small and large redworm eggs, which look identical under the microscope.
The new test is very similar to performing a FWEC.
It involves incubating faecal samples under controlled conditions to allow strongyle eggs present to hatch and develop into third-stage larvae.
These larvae are then identified under a microscope, enabling accurate differentiation between the large strongyle species — Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, and Strongylus equinus — and the more common small redworm species.
Redworms
Professor Jacqui Matthews is a recognised specialist in parasitology and director of veterinary science at Austin Davis Biologics, the providers of the EquiSal tapeworm and small redworm blood testing services.
She said: “The launch of a commercial larval culture test for large strongyles is a very timely and important step for equine health in the UK.
“While Strongylus vulgaris was once considered under control, recent published reports on its increasing prevalence from across Europe and growing concerns about the risk of clinical disease in the UK highlight the urgent need for this service.
“The move towards targeted worming is vital for preserving drug efficacy, but it must be backed by robust diagnostics to ensure we’re not leaving susceptible horses exposed to potentially life-threatening infections.
“Having access to an easy-to-use test that differentiates between small and large strongyles is a significant advancement and will support both effective treatment decisions and responsible parasite control.”
The Large Strongyle Larval Culture Test is available to buy here and costs £60.
Main image supplied by Westgate Labs
