worms - the benefits?

[twofatponies]

I have seen more than one account of research on humans indicating that there are some positive effects to having various types of parasitic worms. Worms seem to help decrease the symptoms of a variety of inflammatory and auto-immune disorders, from multiple sclerosis to irritable bowel syndrome. Obviously having too many worms and poor nutrition makes you all bloaty-belly miserable. But the research seems to be indicating that we evolved with worms and they have a positive role to play in our bodies.

With this in mind, has anyone heard of similar research on equines - i.e. do worms help with ulcers, for example? Anyone studying this? Again, clearly, there is a state of having too many worms where a horse is bloated and not getting enough nutrition - but I would think that like humans, horses evolved with worms, and most wild horses probably have some worm load, no?

Not that I want a worm of my own! But it's interesting research.

Here's an example of one article (of many) on the topic, re: humans:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17767.php

[buck22]

ewwwwwwwwwwwww :) and fascinating. I have a dear friend who's Crohn's disease prevents her from enjoying riding, she'll find this fascinating i'm sure! Thanks for posting!

[JB]

I'd have to really search to find it again, but I have read reference to the fact that a 0% worm load should not be a goal for horses. Having some very light load actually stimulates the immune system a bit, allowing the body to deal with a potential onslaught if it occurs, according to what I read.

Having a 0% load means the body has no defenses in place should parasites be encountered (which is way more likely than not). But there were other immune-stimulating properties as well, I just don't recall :(

That is why those who don't like daily dewormers don't like them (one reason anyway). You're keeping the horse too clean, and if something happens and he's unprotected and exposed, he's likely to have a bigger issue.

[twofatponies]

I'd have to really search to find it again, but I have read reference to the fact that a 0% worm load should not be a goal for horses. Having some very light load actually stimulates the immune system a bit, allowing the body to deal with a potential onslaught if it occurs, according to what I read.

Having a 0% load means the body has no defenses in place should parasites be encountered (which is way more likely than not). But there were other immune-stimulating properties as well, I just don't recall :(

That is why those who don't like daily dewormers don't like them (one reason anyway). You're keeping the horse too clean, and if something happens and he's unprotected and exposed, he's likely to have a bigger issue.

Today I remembered I was out of wormer, and that made me recall the articles about worms and people and wonder about worms and horses. I'll have to do some more research.

[2enduraceriders]

What an interesting article!

[wateryglen]

Looks like total bull ____ to me! Can't believe I just read that article. It can't be true or interpreted right imho.
NO good reason to think worms are GOOD for humans. :rolleyes: Sheeeesh!! And I suspect it's impossible to EVER get a horse 100% worm free anyway so why ponder it!
Go ask your doctor or your vet.....if they keep a straight face then go with it! :winkgrin:
Honestly where do you all get this stuff!!!!? :eek:

[twofatponies]

Honestly where do you all get this stuff!!!!? :eek:

Sometimes I get lost in the internetz and start to google odd things... :D

[SquishTheBunny]

Its gross, I try not to think about it....but does anyone remember an old ad (60's?) that promoted STERILIZED TAPEWORMS for human weightloss??? EWWWWWWW.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/image/111352/index.html?cat=51

Maybe smartpack can add these for our little chubby pony friends???

[merrygoround]

I would wager that in developing countries where worm infestation is common, anyone with Crohn's Disease would die young.

[deltawave]

Here (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15591509?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=3&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed) is the actual citation with abstract.

Here (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15825065?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed)is another for treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. (same researchers)

I think it's very interesting to contemplate the possible implications of this, but it's a long way from being anything that we ought to think about therapeutically, and in terms of extrapolating to horses--you really can't. The subjects in these studies were "infected" with worms from pigs--the worms can't really survive and thrive in humans and at best would cause a very mild case of "worms" that is transient. Not at all the same thing when thinking of horses and their normal "horse parasites". Very, very important distinction. But a cool thing to look into, and I'm glad the work is being done. If nothing else, it points out very sharply how ENORMOUSLY complicated the immune system is and how we should not be looking to randomly meddle.

[Jeannette, formerly ponygyrl]

Interesting article.
Do we suppose the volunteers had any idea what was in those "sports drinks" before they drank them??

[twofatponies]

Here's another article:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1618732

[Larbear]

Its gross, I try not to think about it....but does anyone remember an old ad (60's?) that promoted STERILIZED TAPEWORMS for human weightloss??? EWWWWWWW.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/image/111352/index.html?cat=51




I was thinking about that...think about it, you could eat whatever you want. You could have your own internal pets! Tommy the tape! :D