Are small strongyles (Cyathostominae) involved in horse colic occurrence?

The research seeks to establish whether small strongyles (Cyathostominae) play a role in the occurrence of colic in horses by comparing the parasitological status of horses with and without the colic syndrome.

Objective of the Study

• The study primarily investigates the potential connection between small strongyle infections and colic in horses. The aim is to compare the parasitological status between horses with colic syndrome and those without.

Methodology

• The research involved coprological analyses on 86 horses, 43 of which had colic, and the remaining 43 served as controls. Researchers sought to evaluate the prevalence of strongyle infections in these animal groups.

Findings

• Results indicated that strongyle eggs were found in 34 out of the 86 horses, equating to a 39.5% prevalence rate. It was also observed that all the 34 horses that tested positive for strongyles had small strongyles infections.
• There was a negative relationship between age and number of strongyle eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), which signifies that the older the horse, the lesser the infection.
• A significant difference in EPG was found between control horses and those with surgical colic, suggesting that infection intensity varied based on the severity of the colic condition.

Conclusions

• The study highlighted two potential theories on the link between small strongyles and colic: One, the presence of adult luminal parasites may offer a protective effect against the harmful influence of small strongyles larvae in intestinal mucosa. Two, management practices that aim to reduce colic risk may in fact increase the horse’s exposure to the infective larvae of the strongyles.
• While the study did not conclude a direct role of small strongyles in horse colic, it did illuminate potential relationships and effects that require further investigation.