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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasit Vectors / A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in ...
Parasites & vectors2018; 11(1); 240; doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2827-3

A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in an oceanic climate region: rotational grazing and parasiticidal fungi.

Abstract: An approach to preventing strongyle infection in horses was tested, comprising rotational pasturing and the administration of spores of two parasiticidal fungi, Mucor circinelloides and Duddingtonia flagrans. Twenty-two adult Spanish Sport Horses were dewormed with ivermectin (1 mg pour-on/kg body weight) and then randomly divided into three groups. G-1 was maintained with continuous grazing, and G-2 and G-3 were kept on a four-paddock rotation system. Commercial pelleted feed (2.5 kg/horse) was supplied to G-1 and G-2 twice a week; horses in G-3 received pellets containing 2 × 10 spores/kg of each fungus. Fecal samples were analyzed by the flotation method to estimate the reduction in the fecal egg counts (FECR), the percentage of horses shedding eggs (PHR), and the egg reappearance period (ERP). Third-stage larvae were identified in fecal pats as Cyathostomum (sensu lato) types A, C and D, Gyalocephalus capitatus, Triodontophorus serratus, Poteriosthomum spp., Strongylus vulgaris and S. edentatus. Two weeks after treatment, the FECR values were 100% in G-1, 96% in G-2 and 99% in G-3; the PHR values were 100% in G-1, 75% in G-2 and 88% in G-3. A strongyle ERP of 6 weeks was observed in G-1, ERP of 10 weeks was observed in G-2, and ERP of 16 weeks was observed in G-3. The counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were > 300 EPG in G-1 and G-2 but remained below 250 EPG in G-3 throughout the observation period of 12 months. These results suggest that horse strongyle infection could be decreased by combining rotational pasturing with feeding pellets containing the spores of parasiticidal fungi.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-12 PubMed ID: 29650055PubMed Central: PMC5897951DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2827-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explored a method to prevent strongyle infections in horses by using rotational grazing techniques and the administration of parasiticidal fungi, Mucor circinelloides and Duddingtonia flagrans. The findings suggested that horse strongyle infections could be decreased by this technique.

Methodology

  • Twenty-two adult Spanish Sport Horses were studied, initially dewormed with ivermectin. Following this, they were divided into three groups.
  • The first group was allowed to graze continuously, while the second and third groups were subjected to a four-paddock rotational grazing system.
  • The first and second groups were given a commercial pelleted feed twice a week, while the third group received pellets that contained each of the parasiticidal fungi spores.

Analysis

  • The assessment of the intervention involved the analysis of fecal samples from the horses, using methods such as counting the eggs in the feces (EPG), determining reduction in fecal egg counts (FECR), measuring the percentage of horses shedding eggs (PHR), and calculating the egg reappearance period (ERP).
  • Two weeks after treatment, the FECR values were found to be highest in the first group (100%) that continuously grazed, whereas the second group showed 96% and, the third group a 99% reduction.
  • In regard to PHR values, it was observed to be at 100% in the first group, 75% in the second group and 88% in the last group.
  • The ERP was highest in the third group, at 16 weeks, compared to the first group which showed an ERP of 6 weeks and second group, of 10 weeks.

Results and Conclusion

  • The EPG were found to be more than 300 in group one and two, but remained below 250 in group three throughout the twelve-month observation period.
  • Based on these findings, the study concludes that strongyle infections in horses can be significantly reduced by combining rotational pasturing with a diet containing spores of parasiticidal fungi.

Cite This Article

APA
Hernández JÁ, Sánchez-Andrade R, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Arroyo FL, Sanchís JM, Paz-Silva A, Arias MS. (2018). A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in an oceanic climate region: rotational grazing and parasiticidal fungi. Parasit Vectors, 11(1), 240. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2827-3

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 240
PII: 240

Researcher Affiliations

Hernández, José Ángel
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Sánchez-Andrade, Rita
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Cazapal-Monteiro, Cristiana Filipa
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Arroyo, Fabián Leonardo
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Sanchís, Jaime Manuel
  • Parasitología, Universidad de la República (Regional Norte), Salto, Uruguay.
Paz-Silva, Adolfo
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Arias, María Sol
  • Equine Diseases Study Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Santiago de Compostela University, 27002, Lugo, Spain. mariasol.arias@usc.es.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Husbandry / methods
  • Animals
  • Climate
  • Duddingtonia / physiology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Mucor / physiology
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Pest Control, Biological / methods
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
  • Strongylida Infections / prevention & control
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary
  • Strongyloidea / microbiology
  • Strongyloidea / physiology

Grant Funding

  • AGL2012-34355 and CTM2015-65954-R / Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain; FEDER
  • Ramu00f3n & Cajal Program / Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain
  • postdoctoral research fellowship / Conselleru00eda de Cultura, Educaciu00f3n e Ordenaciu00f3n Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL: Not applicable. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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