MestLab.eu is the only parasitological laboratory that specialises fully and exclusively in manure tests for horses in order to combat worms. Our customers are professionals, private individuals and veterinarians. We carry out our worm testing largely for clients in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in a number of other countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic and Sweden. We do so in close cooperation with recognised equine vets and equine internal medicine specialists.
Under natural conditions, worms and horses go together to a certain extent, but in the circumstances that people keep horses in now, there is no longer any genuine natural balance and without checks and treatments, excessive worm infestations can unfortunately easily occur with all the associated consequences.
Gastrointestinal worms are pathogenic internal parasites. The key aspect of modern worm control is preventing an excess of harmful gastrointestinal worms in horses by monitoring to ensure the balance between resistance and infective pressure.
Combating worms must be done selectively in order to counteract the development of resistance to anthelmintics (worm cures) and to give the horse the opportunity to build up a certain natural resistance to the worms.
People used to think that horses were not able to build up resistance to worm infestations, and horses were therefore dewormed for many years preventively and frequently (too frequently). Scientific research has however shown this was not correct. Horses really do build up a certain resistance to worms. It is therefore not necessary to deworm all the horses that are together in the same field preventively at the same time. Based on manure tests, we can highly selectively deworm only the horses that really need it. After all, why would you give medicine to a horse that is not sick? This means that you do not have to burden your horse with anthelmintics that it does not need and we will no longer be encouraging the development of resistance. And if your horse does then really get a worm infestation, we will at least still have products that there the worms are not resistant to and which therefore still work!
In practice, all horses are susceptible to worm infestations, but younger and older horses in particular run an elevated risk.
Regular checks for the presence of worm eggs, and a specification of the species and the numbers, are therefore needed for guaranteeing the horse remains in good health. Deworming is the appropriate solution in some situations, but we always discuss it with our veterinarians and it is important that we know what conditions the horses are living in.
Checking for worm eggs is done through targeted manure tests that have to be repeated periodically. It is best if this is done 3 to 4 times a year, in the spring, summer and autumn at any rate. However, when you start monitoring it is certainly advisable to check more often during the first year and it may be advisable for the sake of certainty to deworm the horse once more preventively in the autumn of that year if there is any suspicion of encapsulated larvae. This is so that a good and reliable worm profile is created for the horse.
MestLab.eu tests all manure samples for:
- Redworms (strongyles, primarily Cyathostominae)
- Roundworms (Parascaris equorum)
- Tapeworms (Anoplocephala perfoliata)
- Equine threadworms (Strongyloides westeri)
- Pinworms (Oxyuris equi)
- Liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) – this can be ordered as an extra test together with the standard manure test
- Sand, other
If the result is positive and the number of worms is unacceptably high, a targeted and effective deworming course must be administered. After about six weeks, another control test of the manure must then be done to check whether the worm cure has worked correctly.
Worm cures are only available on prescription from a veterinarian. But you can also order the appropriate worm cure for your horse directly from MestLab.eu. This can only be done by e-mail or phone, i.e. not through this website.
Targeted deworming, if necessary, is ultimately better not only for your horse but also for your wallet.
Our prices for complete analyses are:
1 to 5: €14.95 each, including VAT
6 to 10: €14.00 each, including VAT
>10: subject to agreement
Liver fluke test (combined) €35.25 each, including VAT (prices for multiple tests can be agreed)
This price includes the cost of shipping the sample sets to you, the complete analysis and sending you the test results. As an extra, we also test the manure for the presence of sand. If this is observed, you can if you wish also order a sand clearing supplement through MestLab.eu.
If we detect bacteria such as Giardia or Eimeria, you´ll be notified of this separately and a recommendation will be given.
Our info :
Netherlands
MestLab.eu V.O.F.
Hopmeerweg 3 B
4725 SH Wouwse Plantage
Fax: 0165 – 51 28 59
GSM: +31 (0)6 20 62 88 99 (Lambèrt van Nispen)
E-mail:
info@mestlab.eu
Bankrekening: NL 47 ABNA 0519 416 090
BIC: ABNA NL 2A
KVK nummer: 57244944
BTW nr.: NL 852499152B01
Privacy declaration
Belgium
MestLab.eu
Postbus 88
2910 Essen
