Correlation between fecal egg count, presence of Strongylus vulgaris, and body score of feral horses on Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Abstract: Approximately 700 feral horses, dubbed "trespass horses" by the United States Army, occupy Fort Polk, Louisiana and the surrounding Kisatchie National Forest. These horses are considered a nuisance and hazard, and the military is seeking to remove the horses via adoption. The aim of this research was to evaluate the fecal egg count (FEC), body condition score (BCS), and the presence of Strongylus vulgaris within this previously unstudied horse population prior to removal. The feral horse data was compared to domestic horses living on a single farm in the same area. A modified McMaster FEC, Henneke body scoring via photography, and PCR were used to evaluate 10 domestic horses and 28 feral horses. A significantly higher FEC was identified for feral horses when compared to domestic horses (p = 0.004), and 69.2% of feral horses were positive for S. vulgaris while all domestic horses tested negative. Additionally, no correlation was found between FEC and BCS for domestic (p = 0.213) or feral (p = 0.099) horses, and no association was found between FEC and S. vulgaris presence (p = 0.21) or BCS and S. vulgaris presence (p = 0.52). This study provides insight into S. vulgaris and strongyle prevalence in a previously unstudied group of horses and indicates a need for anthelmintic treatment and monitoring of the feral horses once they are adopted.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-03-15 PubMed ID: 31014862DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.002Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research aimed to evaluate the body condition score, fecal egg count, and the presence of a specific parasite, Strongylus vulgaris, in a feral horse population located in Fort Polk, Louisiana. The study found the feral horses had a significantly higher fecal egg count than domestic horses, and a majority of them were positive for S. vulgaris, suggesting the need for parasite treatment and monitoring after adoption.
Study Context
- The research was conducted on a population of about 700 feral horses in Fort Polk, Louisiana, referred to as “trespass horses” by the U.S. Army. These horses are regarded as a nuisance and hazard, and a removal program, primarily through adoption, is underway.
- The primary objective of this research was to assess the body condition score (BCS), fecal egg count (FEC), and the presence of a particular parasitic nematode, Strongylus vulgaris, in this feral horse population before their removal.
- The results from the feral horse population were compared with data from domestic horses living on a single farm in the same region.
Methodology
- The researchers used a modified McMaster FEC to evaluate the horses’ fecal matter for parasite eggs.
- The body condition of the horses was determined using the Henneke body scoring system, which was conducted via photographic evaluation.
- PCR—an effective technique for diagnosing parasitic infections—was used to identify the presence of S. vulgaris.
- A total of 10 domestic and 28 feral horses were evaluated using these methods.
Findings
- The research discovered a significantly higher FEC in feral horses compared to domestic horses, indicating a higher prevalence of parasitic infection among the feral population.
- A significant proportion (69.2%) of feral horses tested positive for S. vulgaris, whereas the parasite was not found in any of the domestic horses evaluated.
- However, the study found no correlation between FEC and BCS in either the domestic or the feral horse populations, suggesting that the body condition of the horses was not influenced by the count of parasite eggs in their feces.
- Additionally, there was no association found between FEC and S. vulgaris presence or BCS and S. vulgaris presence, indicating that this specific parasitic infection didn’t impact the horses’ body condition or the presence of other parasitic eggs.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The research offers valuable insights into the prevalence of S. vulgaris and other strongyle parasites in a previously unstudied group of horses.
- Given the significantly high FEC and prevalence of S. vulgaris in the feral horse population, the study calls for the need for anthelmintic treatment to combat these parasitic infections.
- The research also concludes that these horses should be monitored after their adoption to ensure they receive appropriate parasitic treatments and care.
Cite This Article
APA
Cain JL, Jarisch K, Macaluso KR, Luedtke BE.
(2018).
Correlation between fecal egg count, presence of Strongylus vulgaris, and body score of feral horses on Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 13, 14-17.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, United States.
- United States Army Veterinary Corps, United States.
- Lousiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, United States.
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, United States. Electronic address: luedtkebe@unk.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Wild / parasitology
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Horses / parasitology
- Louisiana / epidemiology
- Male
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / parasitology
- Strongylus / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 1;12(23).
- Ju00fcrgenschellert L, Kru00fccken J, Bousquet E, Bartz J, Heyer N, Nielsen MK, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Occurrence of Strongylid Nematode Parasites on Horse Farms in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, With High Seroprevalence of Strongylus vulgaris Infection.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:892920.
- Harley JJ, Stack JD, Braid H, McLennan KM, Stanley CR. Evaluation of the Feasibility, Reliability, and Repeatability of Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses: A Pilot Study.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 2;11(7).
- Slivinska K, Klich D, Yasynetska N, u017bygowska M. The Effects of Seasonality and Group Size on Fecal Egg Counts in Wild Przewalski's Horses (Equus Ferus Przewalskii, Poljakov, 1881) in The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine During 2014 - 2018.. Helminthologia 2020 Dec;57(4):314-321.
- Gu00f3recka-Bruzda A, Jaworski Z, Jaworska J, Siemieniuch M. Welfare of Free-Roaming Horses: 70 Years of Experience with Konik Polski Breeding in Poland.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 24;10(6).
- Jenkins E, Backwell AL, Bellaw J, Colpitts J, Liboiron A, McRuer D, Medill S, Parker S, Shury T, Smith M, Tschritter C, Wagner B, Poissant J, McLoughlin P. Not playing by the rules: Unusual patterns in the epidemiology of parasites in a natural population of feral horses (Equus caballus) on Sable Island, Canada.. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020 Apr;11:183-190.