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Discussion on Secondary symptoms from onchocerciasis
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New Member:
tilly
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 - 4:43 pm:
I've owned my horse a year now and during that time he has had persistent flare ups of what I now believe to be onchocerciasis. Indicated by loss of belly hair (dime sized patches, no central punctures), scratching neck, head, mane and tail, significant worsening symptoms after Ivermectin.
I will now treat him once monthly with Ivermectin and see if the flare ups can become less severe. Any other suggestions to relieve his discomfort would be appreciated.
I wondered if there are recorded secondary symptoms from this hypersensitivity? The horse has DrOpped weight and is very lethargic. His eyes and coat are dull. He eats more than his pasture buddies and still looks poor. He gets grain 2x per day, good hay and is turned out on rich pasture at night.
The horse is black in color but his eyes are golden brown. I heard somewhere that with sheep and goat worm infestation the pigment of their eyes lightens. Could this be relevant with horses?
I don't see this horse scratching to the point that he isn't grazing and he always cleans up his grain and feed. He clearly isn't doing well and I'd appreciate your suggestions.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Jul 21, 2008 - 1:24 pm:
Hello Jan,
We use to give a 40 mg of dexamethasone to horses with a history of reactions following an ivermectin deworming but that is become unnecessary as we do not see the problem anymore, probably do to the frequent use of avermectins decreasing the incidence. Is there a reason in this horses history to suspect a large adult burden of neck thread worms? For more on the life cycle see the article on Onchocerciasis.
DrO
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