Two studies offer differing assessments of the value of garlic in worm
control in horses.
Garlic is said to have many beneficial properties and is often fed
to horses. Supplements claim benefits including anti-septic, anti-inflammatory
and antibacterial effects, as well as acting as a fly repellent and appetite
stimulant. Garlic is also said to act
against intestinal parasites.
There is a worldwide problem of drug resistance in nematode
(roundworm) populations, which has led to a growing interest in alternative
methods of control.
Garlic formulations are often used in prevention and treatment of
intestinal parasites. But are the effective? Recent reports have produced conflicting
evidence regarding the effect of garlic against strongyle nematodes.
Mousa Tavassoli and colleagues at the Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Iran conducted a study of the
anti-parasitic effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of garlic (Allium sativum)
and Ferula asafoetida (a plant native to the area that has been used to treat
intestinal parasite infections in traditional medicine).
Third stage strongyle larvae were exposed to different
concentrations of extracts of both plants and to tap water.
The researchers found that both garlic and Ferula
asafoetida extracts were effective against the larvae, demonstrating dose-dependent
anthelmintic activities. Larval mortality rate increased significantly as the
time of exposure to the extracts increased.
They conclude that hydroalcoholic extracts of
F. asafoetida and A. sativum have potential anthelmintic and larvicidal
activities in vitro. They suggest that further in vivo evaluation of the
different parts and fractions is needed to make use of these plants for
beneficial purposes.
On the other hand, a study in Italy assessed the effect of garlic
on egg-shedding and found that garlic failed to control intestinal strongyles
in naturally infected horses.
Francesco Buono and colleagues monitored the effect on egg
shedding in horses naturally infected with intestinal strongyles.
The field trial was conducted in a horse trotter farm in Southern
Italy. Fifteen naturally infected mares were allocated to one of three
treatment groups:
- fresh garlic group - animals received 40 g of fresh crushed garlic once daily for 15 days;
- dry garlic group - animals received 40 g of commercial dry garlic flakes food supplement once daily for 15 days;
- control group - no treatment
After two weeks of garlic administration, a faecal
egg count reduction test showed the garlic failed to reduce strongyle egg
shedding.
Long term administration of garlic has been
associated with anaemia. However, in this study, red blood cell counts remained
within normal limits throughout the treatment period.
They conclude: “In our study model, the oral
administration of garlic formulations has no effect on reducing the egg
shedding of intestinal strongyles, and the garlic supplementation over a short
period of time is not responsible for hematological changes in horses.”
For more details, see:
The in vitro effect of Ferula asafoetida and Allium sativum extracts on
Strongylus spp.
M. Tavassoli, G. Jalilzadeh-Amin, VRB Fard, R. Esfandiarpour.
Ann Parasitol. (2018) 64 p59–63.
Preliminary
Observations of the Effect of Garlic on Egg Shedding in Horses Naturally
Infected by Intestinal Strongyles
F.Buono,
L. Pacifico, D. Piantedosi, G. Sgroi, B. Neola, C. Roncoroni, A. Genovese, D.
Rufrano, V. Veneziano
Journal of
Equine Veterinary Science (2019) 72, p79-83.
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