Project WORMS: new awareness campaign launched to tackle anthelmintic resistance in horses
May 19, 2022
IVC Evidensia has joined a host of veterinary institutions to lend its voice to the growing problem of anthelmintic resistance in horses.
The new awareness campaign is the result of a collaboration between IVC Evidensia, VetPartners’ Equine Clinical Board and CVS Group, and is supported by the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA). Ethical approval has been obtained from the RCVS.
In the first stage of the project, stud managers and horse owners are being asked to complete short surveys to find out how and when they worm, as well as which products they use. The data will be used to help vets work with owners to try and prevent serious disease, and even death, due to anthelmintic resistance in the future.
Graham Hunter, IVC Evidensia equine veterinary group advisor, said: “There is a huge and worsening issue with resistance, not just with bacteria’s resistance to our antibiotics but also equine parasites to our worming drugs. We need to develop and improve our strategies for their future use. Project WORMS is an amazing collaborative study into how we as an industry and our clients are using these products and how we can improve our strategies for keeping the horses, ponies and donkeys under our care in the very best of health. We are delighted to be on board with such an important project.”
Surveys are anonymous, and anyone taking part can enter a prize draw with the chance to win £100 of Love2Shop vouchers.
What is Project WORMS?
Project WORMS, which stands for Working to Overcome Resistance and Make for a Sustainable future, aims to encourage horse owners and stud managers to share information about their approach to worming in a bid to tackle anthelmintic resistance and safeguard equine health in the future.The new awareness campaign is the result of a collaboration between IVC Evidensia, VetPartners’ Equine Clinical Board and CVS Group, and is supported by the British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA). Ethical approval has been obtained from the RCVS.
In the first stage of the project, stud managers and horse owners are being asked to complete short surveys to find out how and when they worm, as well as which products they use. The data will be used to help vets work with owners to try and prevent serious disease, and even death, due to anthelmintic resistance in the future.
Graham Hunter, IVC Evidensia equine veterinary group advisor, said: “There is a huge and worsening issue with resistance, not just with bacteria’s resistance to our antibiotics but also equine parasites to our worming drugs. We need to develop and improve our strategies for their future use. Project WORMS is an amazing collaborative study into how we as an industry and our clients are using these products and how we can improve our strategies for keeping the horses, ponies and donkeys under our care in the very best of health. We are delighted to be on board with such an important project.”
How can I participate in PROJECT WORMS?
To find out more about the project, visit the Project WORMS website here. Alternatively, if you would like to access the surveys straight away, you can use this survey if you’re a Horse Owner or this survey if you’re a Stud/Yard Owner.Surveys are anonymous, and anyone taking part can enter a prize draw with the chance to win £100 of Love2Shop vouchers.
