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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Hair and Coat Problems / Itching / Irritated Skin » Ventral Midline (Belly) Dermatitis and Onchocerciasis »
  Discussion on Onchocerca(?)
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 20, 1999 - 12:45 am:

Our Colt just turned 3 mo. old,He's been wormed twice with Zimecterin.It states that it contains 1.87% Ivermectrin.My questions,is this enough Ivermectrin to start taking care of his problem?Also,can he be wormed every Month with Ivermectrin( if I could find some.)or is he two young.I want too give him a"Rino" shot,Will that be o.k.?He's had his second Tetnus a few days ago.We're also weaning him.He seems Healthy as a horse,as the saying goes.I (excuse the pun)He eats grain and hay well.I read the article about 'Neck Thread Worms.If you have any more in put that I may need to know please comment.I've followed the Advisor for a few years(don't remember exactly),anyway I think it is absoutly fantastic.I just wished I could spend more time here.Thanks so much for all the knowledge.I learned more info here than my $80.00 horse books.Their all right but this site is better.Thanks again.
Carolyn (Mrs Ed)

Posted on Sunday, Jun 20, 1999 - 10:47 am:

Hello Carolyn,
Ahhh...geeeeee, what do I say to that but Thank You.

The percentage ivermectin you are using is standard and as long as you give an accurate amount, by weight, it is fine. I always try to give an extra 10 to 20% over my estimate just to be sure. If you haven't a clue get a weight tape but I would still add some extra the tapes are not 100%.

I think a once monthly dosing of weanlings to yearlings can be justified. We are just beginning to realize that a foal's intestinal parasites do not respond as well to anthelminics as adults. We do not know why but I suspect they clear the drug faster from their systems. I have never been able to find enough about the life cycle of onchocerca to give advice on prevention of the establishment of adults, but I would not worry about them excessively. For the most part they appear to be nonpathogenic at this time for all but those that develop allergies to them.

Check out the two main articles on vaccination for recommendatins and reasons. I now wait until the 6 month to begin respiratory vaccine series but I use to do it at 3 months without harm but it may not be helping, the articles explain why.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 10, 1999 - 11:51 pm:

Our 3 month colt,with the Onchocera problem has had an awful time shedding his coat.He's about got it all shedded now except,his sides still look like a fur ball and he still has some baby hair on his legs. But each day he looks a little better.Now my question,"Could the neck worms cause this to make him shed slowly?I brush him every day.He seems to be doing great other wise.For now he's a little "Darling" till he starts showing his studish ways one of the days.

Thank you much! Carolyn

Posted on Sunday, Jul 11, 1999 - 7:19 am:

Hello Carolyn,
I see I did not address this in the inital post. He is not having problems with Onchocerca. He is not old enough to have contracted the larva from insect bites and then have the larvae mature to adults and produce micorfilaria that cause the skin disease problems. I do not think 3 months old is to be considered unusual for not finished shedding out and this is the ugliest period.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 11, 1999 - 3:02 pm:

Thanks Dr. O,This is a worry off my mind.Your so right,This is an ugly stage.He's so ugly, I'm considering naming him "Ugly Like My Mama" He looks just like her and is she ugly.Thanks again.

Carolyn

Posted on Sunday, Jul 11, 1999 - 7:16 pm:

Dr. O -
What type of skin problems might Onchocerca cause?
Crusty skin, oily or oozy persistant soars in the
tail dock, main and belly, insessint tail
rubbing?.... If you had a good record of using an
Ivermectrin wormer would it be possible to have a
Onchocerca problem? Hmmm... kinda makes me think.

Thanks agian for a site that provokes better horse
care!

Posted on Monday, Jul 12, 1999 - 6:29 am:

We have an article that answers most of your questions in the Diseases: Skin section.

Not explained in there is that ivermectin and Quest, but not other dewormers, will clear the microfilariae (larvae) from the tissues but does NOT kill the adults. We think the adults persist for 8 to 14 years (unconfirmed) and if ivermectin is used regularly in a population it may prevent the further development of adults by killing off the larvae before they become adults.

If the allergy is severe you could still have it since the adults produce the larvae and then the ivermectin kills them off, it just seems very unlikely but the diagnosis is easy: if evertime you deworm with the above products you get a three day flair of pruritis and skin disease you probably have onchocerca hypersensitivity.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jan 12, 2002 - 12:33 pm:

My six year old mare has rubbed her mane almost off about midway down her topline. This has happened about three years in a row. She has begun early this year.
This mare is very difficult to worm with paste wormers, and for awhile in her 2nd year or so, she was not wormed regularly. I now have her (and two others) on a 3x a year Invermectin and Strongid C.
It is a warm winter here in Northern California this year. Could this be a midge problem? But then, she is habitually rubbing that section of mane. It would be nice for her to have relief and for me to be able to enjoy what used to be a lovely long Morgan mane!
Any suggestions?
Mickey

Posted on Saturday, Jan 12, 2002 - 11:06 pm:

Hello Diane,
If you have not already start with the article at Equine Diseases: Skin Diseases: Overview of Scratching & Rubbing. If after reviewing the article you still have questions post them in that forum. Remember to start your own discussion instead of posting at the bottom of someone elses (see READ THIS FIRST underneath this post for more.)
DrO
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