New Worming Message From Merial: ‘Don’t Aim To Kill All Worms’

This spring Merial simplified the SMART worming message by introducing the SMART Rules, four simple rules to help horse owners plan an effective worming programme for 2012. As the new posters emphasizing rule two are now available for your practice, Merial takes a closer look at this rule to help you explain why refugia is so important. Horse owners typically dread the thought of their horses harbouring worms, but in actual fact allowing the horse to keep a low number of worms in their system can be beneficial. Keeping a low population of treatment-resistant worms in the horse, known as refugia, helps to dilute the number of treatment-resistant worms that are developing. Worming too frequently will deplete the number of treatment- sensitive worms, leaving only resistant worms in the gut which cannot be eradicated with wormers. What is refugia? Refugia is the population of worms not exposed to wormer treatment so includes the parasites in untreated horses and on the pasture. They pose little threat in small numbers, but serve to dilute the population of treatment-resistant worms. When the treatment-resistant worms breed, they pass on their resistance genes to the next generation. Keeping a population of worms in refugia, however, means that it is not only the resistant worms that breed. In this way the worm population always has a good proportion of treatment-sensitive worms, and worming treatments can continue to be effective now and in the future. Target worming One of the best ways to maintain refugia is to use faecal worm egg counts to find out whether the horse really requires worming. If your clients currently practice this then you will already be advising that if their horse has a result of less than 200 eggs per gram (epg) they should not worm. This is because a low level of worms is not harmful and actually helps to maintain refugia. The SMART online planner at www.smartworming.co.uk will help clients to monitor their horses and only treat them if required, thereby helping to preserve the effectiveness of wormers for the future. New materials Help get the message across with the range of promotional material, leaflets and posters, or direct clients to find out more online at www.smartworming.co.uk. To find out more contact your local Area Manager or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 0845 601 4236.

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