[Anoplocephala sp. prevalence in equines at the Sociedade Hípica Paranaense, Curitiba, PR].

The research provides a survey about the frequency of Anoplocephala sp., a common intestinal parasite in horses, at the Sociedade Hípica Paranaense. It concluded that due to good health conditions and constant cleanliness of the horse facility, the prevalence of this parasite was unexpectedly low.

Objective of the Research

• The aim of the study was to understand the prevalence of Anoplocephala sp., a common tapeworm found in horses, at the Sociedade Hípica Paranaense (SHPr), a renowned equestrian society in Curitiba, Paraná.

Methodology

• The horses at SHPr were treated with ivermectin, a medication used to treat various parasitic infestations but it is ineffective against Anoplocephala sp..
• To verify the presence of Anoplocephala sp., a modified centrifugal flotation technique was employed. This method involves spinning the stool sample at a high speed to separate the heavier parasitic eggs for easier identification.
• The research also used a method to count the number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG), providing a measure of the intensity of parasitic infection in the horse.

Results

• The results showed that none of the stool samples had Anoplocephala sp. eggs. This suggests a lack of infection among the horses at SHPr.
• Only 11% of the horses had positive EPG counts, indicating a lower infestation rate.

Conclusion

• The research attributed the surprisingly low prevalence of Anoplocephala sp. to the excellent health conditions of the horses and the constant cleaning practices at SHPr.
• The study affirms the importance of maintaining good health practices and clean living conditions in preventing Anoplocephala sp. infestations in equine populations.