New film warns of potential resurgence of large redworm in UK horses
Westgate Labs has launched a free educational film highlighting concerns over the potential resurgence of large redworm in UK horses, amid increasing use of targeted parasite control programmes.
The 10-minute YouTube film, produced in partnership with Equioptics and presented by Westgate Labs’ Marketing Director Claire Shand, explores the risks associated with large strongyles (Strongylus spp.) and explains why additional monitoring may be advisable for some horses and yards.
The film outlines how worm egg counts cannot distinguish between small and large strongyle eggs, and how larval culture testing can support more targeted parasite control strategies.
Claire said: “Large redworm was once considered one of the most dangerous parasites affecting horses, but decades of routine interval worming made it increasingly uncommon in the UK. As the industry quite rightly moves towards more targeted parasite control to help preserve wormer efficacy, there is growing discussion around the possibility of large strongyles re-emerging unnoticed.
“Parasite control can be highly technical and difficult to communicate clearly, so we wanted to create an accessible, practical resource that helps prescribers and horse owners better understand the risks and the reasoning behind additional monitoring. The film explains what large redworm is, why it matters, which horses may be at greater risk and how annual larval culture screening can be integrated into a risk-based parasite control programme.”
Annual screening is particularly recommended for:
- Studs and breeding operations
- Competition and sales yards
- Horses travelling internationally
- Premises with frequent horse movement
- Horses receiving minimal or highly selective worming treatments
Westgate Labs also presented a scientific poster to accompany the film at the Horses Inside Out Conference in February
Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/gHR4qf6z7A0
View the scientific poster here: https://www.westgatelabs.co.uk/scientific-poster-large-redworm-the-comeback-we-could-all-be-missing/