Unfed redworm or pinworm?

[BBP2]

Usually I’m quite good on my parasite ID, but this one I’m not certain of.

Is it an anaemic unfed redworm or a pinworm? At about 1.5cm it’s big for a small redworm and small for a pinworm. I’ve never seen a large redworm before so don’t know about those. It was very much alive and kicking.

Poor guy was drenched for liver fluke on Friday (he has severe liver issues and tested positive for fluke, despite the fact that all the experts say there is no way out land should sustain fluke life cycles) and was wormed 10 days previous to that with ivermectin after testing moderate for small redworm. He excreted a large number of dead small redworm following worming but none this size. He has also had pinworm but they were bigger and more pointy/translucent than this.

I’m super worried about him, he seems to be a horse with a lot of resistance to wormers. He arrived from Ireland as a long yearling 4 years ago riddled with parasites and has never been right. Despite FECs and following all advice from westgate, he always carries a worm burden. One theory of osteopathic vet is redworm damage to the mesenteric ganglion bundle of nerves/blood vessels. But that’s one of those things you would never be able to confirm without a necropsy.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'd hazard it is a small roundworm.

 

[alibali]

If you use Westgate I'm sure they do a free 'what the heck is this' service

 

[BBP2]

That’s definitely my plan on Monday, but I know how this forum loves a ‘what the heck is that’ photo!

 

[Bellaboo18]

I'm pretty confident it's a roundworm x

 

[Beausmate]

Small roundworm. Probably a bit too straightforward for BBP's lot!

 

[BBP2]

He has never tested positive for roundworm I don’t think, so that’s why it hadn’t featured in my thought process. I thought it was the one thing we were clear on

 

[tristars]

Out if the blue our cob had worms, some I could not identify, one was 9 inches long, top class vet flummoxed, a mystery as all others zero but he was a rescue some years before, gave him panacur guard 5 days then gap of ten days then another 5 day panacur guard he's been clear since that,

But if using ivermectin I make sure I use equvalan not bimectin and other versions knockoffs

At that time there was loads of earthworms around. Wet warm ideal conditions, one vet asked are you sure it's not earthworms, said dunno but they are living in the poo as well as on the concrete

Was a mystery, as he then tested very low and blood test was good

All you can do is everything you can

These things are sent to try us as my gran would say

 

[rhino]

He has never tested positive for roundworm I don’t think, so that’s why it hadn’t featured in my thought process. I thought it was the one thing we were clear on

I think there is a little confusion. Small redworm IS a type of roundworm.

Large redworms are part of a different classification, strongyles.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I think there is a little confusion. Small redworm IS a type of roundworm.

Large redworms are part of a different classification, strongyles.

Look forward to other opinions on this because that's not my understanding but happy to be corrected!

 

[rhino]

Look forward to other opinions on this because that's not my understanding but happy to be corrected!

Diagnostic test for encysted small redworm

www.westgatelabs.co.uk

Types of Internal Parasites | The British Horse Society

Horses are affected by a wide range of internal parasites, with varying life cycles. Having an effective control strategy in place is vital to help protect your horse from health problems such as weight loss, diarrhoea and colic.

www.bhs.org.uk

 

[LadyGascoyne]

If you're using ivermectin, don't forget that it's very toxic for collies.

 

[BBP2]

I think there is a little confusion. Small redworm IS a type of roundworm.

Large redworms are part of a different classification, strongyles.

Definitely some confusion. I meant he has never tested positive for ascarids, whereas he has consistently been positive for strongyles. So where people here refer to it being a roundworm, I assume they mean ascarides. But you’re right, I have been reading the results of the FEC thinking of small redworm when in fact it is strongyles that the test relates to, so he HAS tested positive to large redworm. I just have only seen the small ones excreted.

 

[rabatsa]

One of ours tipped out loads of worms after getting dosed with triclobendazole for fluke. This despite regular worming with equine products.

 

[BBP2]

One of ours tipped out loads of worms after getting dosed with triclobendazole for fluke. This despite regular worming with equine products.

Interesting. I’m still crossing my fingers and hoping that all the bloating behind his last ribs will disappear having been drenched. No one can explain the cause of it to me but I’m almost hoping it’s related to the fluke and liver and this will help to relieve it. Not sure how long it takes to kill off all the little buggers and for the liver to start to heal. Hopefully I get the results for the rest of them this week.

Westgate reckon the little wriggler in this photo is a small pinworm.