The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published External Parasite and Vector Control Guidelines that provide current information about the control of ticks, flies, lice, mites and mosquitoes. Commonly used control strategies for these external parasites in horses have not changed significantly in recent years. 

The new guidelines, accessible at www.aaep.org/info/guidelines, also include pertinent information on the life cycle, biology and basic terminology used when discussing these parasites and, where appropriate, brief information on the diseases for which a specific parasite may serve as the vector. 

The comprehensive guidelines were created by the AAEP External Parasite Control Task Force, chaired by Dennis French, DVM, DABVP, professor and interim department head, veterinary clinical medicine, at the University of Illinois. Task Force members were Drs. Thomas Craig, Jerry Hogsette, Jr., Angela Pelzel-McCluskey, Linda Mittel, Kenton Morgan, David Pugh and Wendy Vaala. 

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry. 

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