Deworming

As deworming , also popular deworming is called the gift of an anthelmintic (wormer or deworming). In industrialized countries, this usually means use in livestock and domestic animal husbandry. Deworming agents ideally work against a defined, active ingredient-dependent range of internal parasites. In practice, deworming takes place either on suspicion (without prior diagnostic evidence of worms or their eggs) or therapeutically (if a specific disease is present after a corresponding diagnosis - see also selective deworming ).

Environmental aspects and resistances in grazing animal deworming

The worming agents used in livestock farming are highly toxic not only to parasites, but also to non-target organisms. Depending on the drug and pasture access faeces lead treated animals to a sharp decline in individuen- and biomass-rich dung insects (v. A. Diptera and Coleoptera ), in turn, a key food resource for many birds (eg. As Blauracke ) or bats (z. B. Large Mouse ear ). Especially in grassland areas such as the German low mountain ranges, the use of worming agents could contribute to the death of insects . The widespread treatment on suspicion ( prophylactic ) leads to an incomparably stronger resistance of the parasites. These resistances are highly problematic due to the very small number of active substances (alternative preparations) and have been proven many times in Germany and worldwide. Treatment without diagnosis (excrement test) should definitely be avoided: It not only leads to a much greater degree of resistance and, if pasture is accessed, negative changes in the insect fauna , but also to side effects in farm animals. Only sick individual animals should be treated in this way, never the whole herd. Individual or collective fecal samples, which should be repeated after a short period of time for verification, are suitable for diagnosing the infestation pressure with parasites or for checking the success of the therapy. In order to keep the effects on non-target organisms as low as possible, treated animals should ideally be stabled for a certain waiting period.

Species-specific aspects

ruminant

A US soldier shows an Afghan farmer how to spot worms on a goat

Ruminants (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats) are attacked by roundworms (nematodes), suction worms (trematodes) and tapeworms (cestodes). Ruminants are never entirely free from internal parasites. A certain degree of infestation is normal and does not require treatment. Must be treated after an appropriate diagnosis, should be stabled if possible. If the herd is supplemented by the purchase of new animals, prophylactic deworming can also be useful for these new animals. The following active ingredients are sometimes used in ruminants: albendazole , febantel , fenbendazole , levamisole , monepantel , oxfendazole , ivermectin and moxidectin , against the great liver fluke based on triclabendazole and closantel .

Horses and donkeys

Horses and donkeys are mainly attacked by roundworms (nematodes), flukes (trematodes) and tapeworms (cestodes). In addition, some other insects, such as gastric dassel larvae , can attack horses. A certain degree of infestation with internal parasites is also natural in equidae. Preparations from the active ingredient group of the avermectins , especially ivermectin , are used to de-worm horses against roundworms, flukes and gastrointestinal worms. The active ingredient praziquantel is available in various combination preparations against tapeworms. In autumn, the number of moss mites on the pastures increases dramatically, which are considered to be the carriers of tapeworms and which are eaten by the horse.

dog and cat

Dog and cat are often with different roundworms and tapeworms infect (→ tapeworm diseases of the dog , roundworm infections of the dog and worm infections of the cat ). The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) - the European association of experts on parasites in dogs and cats - recommends that pet owners seek advice from veterinarians. A lot of wrong (treatment) information can be found on the Internet, which is problematic for pets and the development of resistance in parasites due to the side effects and potentially toxic effects of the agents. Most funds do not impair the intestinal flora .

Several countries that are currently free of fox tapeworm or suspected to be free of fox tapeworm have restrictions on the importation of animals that are potential carriers of infection with the fox tapeworm. Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Sweden and Finland require a certificate of recent deworming when crossing the border with pets such as dogs or domestic cats. These regulations are in accordance with the law of the European Union .

Deworming in humans

In developing countries, anthelmintic deworming programs are a public health contribution with good value for money (see Copenhagen Consensus ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Nicolas Schoof, Rainer Luick: Antiparasitics in grazing animals - an underestimated factor in insect death? tape 51 , no. 10 . Nature conservation and landscape planning, 2019, p. 486-492 ( researchgate.net ).
2. ^ ^{A b} Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute: Decision-making aid for pasture parasites. Retrieved October 3, 2019 . 
3. ↑ ESCCAP Germany | Parasite Worms News & Tips News> Dr. Google or Vet? Who should advise pet owners on deworming. Retrieved October 3, 2019 . 
4. ↑ MA Fujishiro et al .: Evaluation of the effects of anthelminthic administration on the fecal microbiome of helthy dogs with and without subclinical Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium canis infections. In: PLoS One Volume 15, Issue 2. doi : 10.1371 / journal.pone.0228145
5. ↑ Thoughts on worming

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !