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Case from practice: Neck threadworms

We are the proud owners of our Lusitano gelding, Zartouche. Last summer, in 2023, we noticed for the first time that he reacted more strongly to flies in the field, something we had never observed before. After the summer, he developed severe itching and bumps on his right shoulder, which also showed bald patches and burst open. We tried treating it with creams and powders, but the problem just wouldn’t go away.

Facebook post about neck threadworms
Then we came across a Facebook post by Worm&Co about “neck threadworms.” This intrigued us, as little was known about the phenomenon. We shared the information with our vet and asked if they could test for it. The answer was that the phenomenon was not yet well known and needed confirmation. We were given two options: take biopsies to see if it was “neck threadworms,” or start treatment with Ivermectin.

Treatment
The downside of biopsies was that they had to be taken randomly from various locations, since the exact spot was unknown. Therefore, in consultation with our vet, we decided to administer the Ivermectin injection. After just one week, the itching had significantly decreased, after two weeks even more so, and after four weeks the itching was gone, along with the bumps and bald spots.

However, after four weeks the itching and bumps returned, so we decided to give the Ivermectin injection again and wait another 4 to 6 weeks. Fortunately, this treatment worked and after another 4 to 6 weeks all the itching disappeared, and the bumps and bald spots completely healed.

We will have to wait and hope that the symptoms do not return, because if Zartouche has been infected with the “neck threadworm” by infected midges, the symptoms could reappear. If that happens, we will consult our vet again for further treatment.

Grateful to Worm&Co
After all this, we got in touch with Worm&Co, as their information helped us act quickly and effectively in consultation with our vet. We would like to thank them for their valuable information and look forward to further cooperation.

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