Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibility (CANTER)

A pan industry group called “Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly (CANTER)”, led by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and a group of stakeholder vets, academics and the industry, has developed and published a set of best practice guidelines on sustainable parasite control for horses in order to slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance.  

Dr Simon Daniels, Associate Professor Equine Management and Science, has been involved since the outset of this journey in 2021 when the pan industry group led by the VMD was formed. From two initial workshops, a core steering group was formed, alongside several working groups including research, diagnostics, communications, and a group specifically tasked with creating a set of best practice guidelines.

Simon joined the working groups for the best practice guidelines, research and diagnostics areas. Over the last three years he and his colleagues have created, and peer reviewed, a set of best practice guidelines as part of a world-leading team of veterinary parasitologists, academics, vets in practice, corporate veterinary groups, the British Equine Veterinary Association, equine charities and those from both the pharmaceutical industry and commercial parasitology diagnostic services. The guidelines known as the CANTER Guidelines were officially launched at the Equine Infectious Disease Meeting on 3rd October 2024.

The guidelines consider risk assessing the need for anthelmintic use across a range of types of horses and environments in which they are kept, all of which alter the risk of parasite infection. The guidelines take a holistic approach and consider all aspects of risk assessment, pasture management, dealing with high-risk individuals and the environmental impact of anthelmintics, for instance on dung beetles and the risk of leaching from muck heaps to water courses. Simon wrote the chapter on the environmental effect of anthelmintic use and was involved in the peer review of other chapters in the guidelines.