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Post by dalesnfellfan on Jul 9, 2014 9:40:35 GMT -1
Westgate laboratories are now selling a saliva swab test for tape worm at £17.95 per test which is significantly cheaper than a blood test, does not need a vet to take the sample and is more reliable. It uses an ELISA method which was developed for Rossdales and is, according to their data 83% accurate, apparently the 17% was all in the medium level, no result of > 20 worms (considered to be pathogenic) was misdiagnosed in clinical trials which were validated by physical worm counts post mortem. The full report can be seen by following the link from the Westgate laboratories web site in the tapeworm section.
I will definitely be using this test for Emerald as I am very keen not to put any chemical in her she doesn't need due to her reaction to them.
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Post by harveydales on Jul 9, 2014 11:09:40 GMT -1
Thanks for posting this, Andrea. I had heard about the test earlier this year but didn't know it was now available via Westgate. I will certainly be testing all 4 of mine.
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Post by Debbie on Jul 9, 2014 22:29:33 GMT -1
How interesting. Blossom doesn't 'do' needles, so this sounds like a very sensible way to monitor her needs in the future  |
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 2, 2014 12:04:21 GMT -1
I have done Emeralds saliva test this morning and got it in the post, now just have to wait for the results.
It was easy to do, just hold the swab on the tongue until the indicator strip turns pink, they do have not to have eaten or drunk anything for 30 min though as too much saliva can give false results. I was amused by the frequently asked questions section in the instructions, the first FAQ was 'my horse has swallowed the swab, will it harm him?' it is quite a short swab, may be a longer one would be better but I didn't have any problems.
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Post by zeldalithgow on Oct 2, 2014 16:25:36 GMT -1
as well as not having anything to eat or drink for 30 min before the test they can't have been exercised either
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Post by harveydales on Oct 2, 2014 18:57:56 GMT -1
Yes, I read all that and decided to leave it this year for mine and give them a wormer for tape worm but I do hate the idea of worming them if they don't need it. Do let us know the results please. I must say, I've just had faecal worm counts done and find the results very confusing. I do wonder whether a tiny sample out of all the poo produced in 24 hours can give an accurate result but the saliva test for tape worm does sound more accurate.
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Post by yanny on Oct 4, 2014 17:50:24 GMT -1
Sounds like a great idea. Seems a lot better than pumping chemicals into our beloved ponies...especially if they're not worm-infested
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 8, 2014 12:37:51 GMT -1
Well, I'm not very impressed so far, I swabbed her last Thursday and sent swab off to lab the same day, ( not my usual lab) and by this morning I still hadn't heard a thing about the results, so I thought I'd phone them. I couldn't find a phone no. with the kit, so I rang Hadrian Equine who I bought the kit through, I only bought the kit from them instead of my usual lab as I needed some wormers as well and thought it would save postage, they were very helpful but hadn't got a phone no. either. So emailed lab after googling , (still no phone no. on their website), and got a reply that they had run her swab yesterday (5 days after receiving sample) and the test was inconclusive, so they were going to re-run swab on Fridays run.
I know this test isn't like a worm count, it is an ELISA so it's probably not worth them running the equipment for one or two samples, but I would have thought at the very least they could have let me know they were having to re-run and when I was likely to get a result without me having to chase them.
I followed the instructions, she had no food, water or exercise for a good 30 minutes before taking the swab, I wonder how often they get a inconclusive result and I suppose it will mean another swab if the test on Friday is also inconclusive.
I think I may just worm her for tape worm anyway, in that case, as she will have to have several weeks off work in any case due to her op on Monday, but it does rather defeat the objective of trying not to put chemicals into her unless absolutely necessary.
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Post by harveydales on Oct 8, 2014 14:40:45 GMT -1
How disappointing! I must say, the fact that they can't have even a mouthful of grass for 30 minutes before taking the test and can't be exercised either has put me off. Mine all live out so this makes it very difficult for me. I'm beginning to think that blood tests are the best way to go if I really want to test for tape worm.
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Post by zeldalithgow on Oct 8, 2014 17:55:41 GMT -1
I'm with you Pam, it's just too difficult to follow the instructions with 4 living out and no stables, especially if the results might not be that reliable
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 9, 2014 11:00:12 GMT -1
Yes, she was not terribly impressed at being tied up outside for 30 min without any hay, I didn't want to put her in her stable in case she had a nibble of straw. I groomed her and faffed around but the 30 min seemed to go so slowly and before the time was up she was pawing at the concrete and moving around quite a bit as she has quite a low boredom threshold if there is no food involved.
I must admit when I saw what was involved I did think twice about it, but as she reacts so badly to wormers I decided in the end to give it a try. I bought 2 swabs kits so I had one for the spring as well so I may as well use the second one if necessary I suppose if the repeat test is inconclusive.
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 11, 2014 12:00:40 GMT -1
Just had the results of the test re-run and it's come back as Low - no wormer required. I am very relieved about this as I didn't really want to worm her, now just need to consider what I do about the risk of encysted red worm in the winter, think I need to talk to my vet again before making a decision, as no test available for this.
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Post by harveydales on Oct 11, 2014 12:24:25 GMT -1
Phew, that's a relief then. Which was the wormer Em reacted so badly against?
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 11, 2014 14:48:16 GMT -1
It was Equest Pramox, Pam, but also she reacted to detromax injection, which was what caused the reaction when she had me off.
My vet has advised against a combined wormer, so if he advises worming her for encysted worms around Dec/Jan, I guess he will suggest a single ingredient wormer, I don't want her to be put at risk from red worm, but am a bit reluctant to worm as she is likely to have just come back into full work when she will need doing.
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Post by harveydales on Oct 11, 2014 14:59:54 GMT -1
Yes, I also avoid the combined wormers ever since I had a horse who was sensitive. I'd be interested in what your vet advises.
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