Cyathostomin faecal egg counts in horse farms from Central Italy.

The research studied Cyathostomin (a type of parasitic worm) eggs in horse feces across various farms in Italy, discovering a decrease in active infection rates compared to previous years, despite similar climate conditions.

Introduction and Objectives

• This study was focused on Cyathostomins, commonly known as ‘small strongyles’, which are the most significant helminths or parasitic worms affecting horses due to their global distribution, development of resistance to anti-parasitic drugs, and harmful impact on horse health.
• The objective of the research was to evaluate the extent of egg shedding in horses, which is an indication of the severity and prevalence of the cyathostomin infection.
• The count of eggs in feces (fecal egg count or FEC) is crucial for identifying high-risk animals and planning treatment programs.

Methodology

• The study analyzed fecal samples from 475 horses on 12 farms across three regions in Italy.
• Horses were characterized as positive for cyathostomins based on their FEC. Those with an eggs-per-gram (epg) in their feces of < 50 were identified through qualitative microscopy.

Results

• The research found that all the farms studied and 47.6% of the horses were positive for cyathostomins.
• Overall, 28.8% of the horses had cyathostomin FECs ranging from 50 to 2,150 epg. Further, 18.1% of the horses were positive under qualitative microscopy.
• From the animals with a FEC greater than 50 epg, 17% showed from 50 to 200 epg, and 12% presented more than 200 epg.

Conclusions

• The findings showed a reduced presence of high-shedding horses compared to previous studies conducted in the same areas, even though climate conditions, which can affect the prevalence of infection, were similar.
• The authors emphasise the continued need for monitoring the epidemiological and biological features of horse cyathostomin infections for effectively planning interventions to maintain animal health and preserve the efficacy of parasiticides.