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EQUISAL TAPEWORM TESTING
Worm Egg Counts aren’t reliable for detecting tapeworm eggs but good news, there’s a new saliva test for tapeworm. We supply the sampling kits and the samples are analysed by Austin-Davis Biologics Ltd.
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It is recommended that you test for tapeworm every 6 months.
KEY INFORMATION
WHEN SHOULD I CARRY OUT AN EQUISAL TEST?
It is recommended that your horse has not been wormed for tapeworm in the 4 months prior to testing with the EquiSal test. Products that treat for tapeworm contain Praziquantel or a double dose of Pyrantel Embonate.
Routine testing should then be carried out every 6 months. If your horse had a borderline or moderate/high diagnosis, you can carry out a re-test â…” months after administering an appropriate treatment for tapeworm.
HOW DO I TAKE A SAMPLE?
The EquiSal kits come with everything you need to take a saliva sample. The swab has an indicator that turns bright pink when enough sample has been collected.
It is important that your horse hasn’t had anything to eat, drink or have been exercised for at least 30 minutes prior to sampling. This is to make sure that the sample isn’t too dilute.
HOW DOES THE EQUISAL TEST WORK?
The EquiSal test works by isolating any antibodies to tapeworm that are present in your horse’s saliva.
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​The test measures tapeworm-specific antibodies in saliva, using a combination of three laboratory tests (called ELISAs*). Each sample is analysed under very carefully defined conditions to account for variations in saliva flow and impact of diet. The saliva samples are handled by an automated liquid handing system to ensure very high accuracy, as well as high-fidelity sample tracking throughout the test procedure. An algorithm is applied to integrate data from the three different tests to generate an EquiSal diagnosis of tapeworm burden – the saliva score.
WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN?
Low Tapeworm Burden
EquiSal Score of <-0.09
No treatment recommended.
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Borderline Tapeworm Burden
EquiSal Score -0.09 - 0.6
Treatment recommended.
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Medium/High Burden
EquiSal Score >0.6
Treatment recommended.
There are no units for the EquiSal score because the final score is calculated using an algorithm that combines the results of the 3 different tests used during the EquiSal Tapeworm Test procedure.
EQUISAL FAQS
To help you get the best out of the EquiSal Tapeworm Test.
MY HORSE HAS EATEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD/HAY/GRASS WITHIN THE HALF HOUR BEFORE THE SALIVA COLLECTION WILL THIS BE OK?
No, it is critical that the horse must have eaten nothing at all. The test will not work if the horse is producing too much saliva and will result in a retest being required.
MY HORSE IS HAVING DENTAL TREATMENT SOON, CAN I COLLECT A SAMPLE AT THE SAME TIME?
No, if there is any presence of blood in the sample as a result of routine dental treatment, then this will affect the results.
I HAVE FINISHED COLLECTING SALIVA AND THE SWAB IS COVERED WITH FOOD BITS/HAY, DOES THIS MATTER?
It is perfectly OK for the swab to have food debris on it, you may want to pick off any large bits. The presence of food/grass/hay does not affect the test results.
I HAVE DROPPED THE SWAB ON THE FLOOR WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Providing the swab is not dirty, you can continue your saliva collection, but please inform us of the incident on the delivery note. However you must not wash the swab.
I HAVE SPILT THE PRESERVATIVE SOLUTION FROM THE SALIVA SWAB STORAGE TUBE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
This is not ideal, but if you send the saliva swab back in the saliva swab storage tube we will attempt to carry out the test. Do not add anything else to the saliva swab storage tube as this will result in unreliable diagnosis.
I HAVE COLLECTED MY HORSE’S SALIVA BUT I CANNOT POST IT IMMEDIATELY, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
We recommend that you place the saliva swab (in its storage tube) in a cool place until you are able to post it to us.
THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY I NEED TO PUT A BARCODE LABEL ON THE SALIVA SWAB STORAGE TUBE, WHY DO I NEED TO DO THIS?
The barcode label is specific to each saliva sample and is used to track your horse’s saliva sample through the testing process. It is important to make sure the label is placed on with no wrinkles and not dirty. Remember to write the name of your horse on the saliva swab storage tube label.
THE VOLUME INDICATOR IS NOT CHANGING COLOUR?
Ensure that you are using the swab correctly by placing the foam, soft end in the horse’s mouth while holding on to the plastic handle.
THE SWAB DOES NOT FIT IN THE TUBE.
Don’t force the swab into the tube, make sure the foamy, soft end is placed into the preservative solution first. The swab should fit easily into the tube in this way.