Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Honors Paper

Degree Name

Equine Pre-Veterinary/Pre-Graduate Studies-BS

Department

Equine Science

Advisor

Dr. Steffanie Burk

First Committee Member

Dr. Sheri Birmingham

Second Committee Member

Dr. Carrigan Hayes

Keywords

Equine, Dewormer, Inflammation, Inteleukin-17, Parasites

Subject Categories

Animal Sciences | Higher Education

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites are a significant health concern in horses, and anthelmintic treatment can influence both parasite burden and host inflammatory responses. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with neutrophil recruitment and epithelial immune activation, may serve as a marker of inflammation following parasite death. This study evaluated the effect of anthelmintic treatment with fenbendazole or moxidectin on circulating IL-17 concentrations in horses over a one-week period. Fifty-six horses with fecal egg counts ≥ 200 eggs per gram were blocked by age and body condition score, and then randomly assigned to control, fenbendazole, or moxidectin groups. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, and 7 and analyzed using a bead-based multiplex cytokine assay, and fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were performed for treated horses. IL-17A concentrations did not differ significantly over time within any group (control: p = .867; fenbendazole: p = .086; moxidectin: p = 1.000) nor among groups at any time point (all p > .20). Regression analyses revealed no associations between IL-17A and age, BCS, or fecal egg count. FECRT results demonstrated 100% reduction for moxidectin and 7.99% reduction for fenbendazole, confirming high macrocyclic lactone efficacy and substantial benzimidazole resistance. These findings indicate that neither anthelmintic treatment nor host factors influenced circulating IL-17A concentrations, suggesting that IL-17A is not a sensitive systemic marker of inflammatory responses to parasite clearance in horses. Broader cytokine profiling and more frequent sampling may better characterize equine immune responses to anthelmintic therapy.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

Acknowledgement 1

1

Acknowledgement 2

1

Download

Available for download on Wednesday, April 23, 2031

Share

COinS