Category: Parasitic

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐬 is a parasite that primarily affects deer, but can accidentally infect other species as well. It is primarily known for invading into the 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, the connective tissue protecting the brain.

𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 is infection with either Echinococcus multilocularis or Echinococcus granulosus. These are species of 𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬, little internal parasites that can have some serious consequences. Here in North America, E. multilocularis is the most important, and the one that we’ll be talking about today.

𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 larvae are the most common parasites of the equine stomach. There are six different species that can affect horses, but the most common ones are 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬 and 𝐆𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬. In their adult form, these flies are frequently seen buzzing around livestock.

EPM is a nervous disease of horses that is caused by protozoan parasites, most commonly 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚. Affected horses have 𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚 (irregular gait due to nervous disease), weakness and depression. Horses also often have head tilt, facial nerve paralysis with drooping of the ears and lips, and difficulty swallowing. These clinical signs tend to get worse over time, progressing to seizures, recumbency and death.