Daily variability of equine fecal strongyle egg counts.
Abstract: Fecal egg counts often are used for diagnosing equine strongyle infections and estimating the number of eggs shed in the feces. An individual egg count should be interpreted in view of the normal fluctuation of egg numbers in an individual horse. In this study, the daily variability of strongyle fecal egg counts from horses was investigated. The Cornell-McMaster egg-counting technique was used to estimate the eggs per gram of feces in repeated daily fecal samples from 39 horses. The variation of the daily egg counts across 4 days was greater than would be expected if a consistent number of eggs were produced and dispersed randomly in the feces. The means and variances of the daily counts from each horse had a logarithmic relationship. For practical purposes, however, the fluctuation of egg counts is low enough for the fecal egg count to be used to identify horses for treatment, to estimate pasture contamination, or to assess response to therapy.
Publication Date: 1992-10-01 PubMed ID: 1424638
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research provides insight into the daily variation in the count of equine strongyle eggs in horse feces. Despite some unexpected variances, the study concludes that the day-to-day shifts are small enough to still make fecal egg counts a useful tool for identifying horses in need of treatment or measuring pasture contamination.
Objective and Methodology
- The research aimed at understanding the daily variability of strongyle fecal egg counts in horses. The significance of this research stems from the usual practice of using fecal egg counts for diagnosing equine strongyle infections and gauging the number of eggs shed in the feces.
- The study involved daily fecal samples collection from 39 horses. The Cornell-McMaster egg-counting technique was then employed to estimate the number of eggs per gram of feces in these repeated samples.
Findings and Analysis
- The results showcased that the variation in daily egg counts over a 4-day period was more significant than what would typically be assumed if a consistent number of eggs were produced and randomly dispersed in the feces.
- The study also found a logarithmic relationship between the means and variances of the daily counts from each horse. This indicates that greater the average egg count, higher the variability in daily egg counts.
Implications and Conclusions
- The research concludes that despite the variability in daily counts, the overall fluctuation is low enough for fecal egg counts to still be a reliable diagnostic tool.
- These counts can be effectively used to identify horses needing treatment, to estimate the level of contamination in the pasture, or to assess the response to therapy for equine strongyle infections.
- The study, however, suggests that individual egg count readings should be interpreted in view of this normal fluctuation of egg counts in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Warnick LD.
(1992).
Daily variability of equine fecal strongyle egg counts.
Cornell Vet, 82(4), 453-463.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Normal Distribution
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Poisson Distribution
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / parasitology
- Strongyloidea / growth & development
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Fulham M, Power M, Gray R. Gut microbiota of endangered Australian sea lion pups is unchanged by topical ivermectin treatment for endemic hookworm infection.. Front Microbiol 2022;13:1048013.
- Mason B, Piel AK, Modrý D, Petrželková KJ, Stewart FA, Pafčo B. Association of human disturbance and gastrointestinal parasite infection of yellow baboons in western Tanzania.. PLoS One 2022;17(1):e0262481.
- Petrželková KJ, Uwamahoro C, Pafčo B, Červená B, Samaš P, Mudakikwa A, Muvunyi R, Uwingeli P, Gilardi K, Nziza J, Noheri JB, Eckardt W, Ndagijimana F, Ssebide B, Okwirokello R, Nizeyimana F, Syaluha EK, Nzayisenga G, Flores Girón L, Bahizi M, Ntwari AE, Lukusa JP, Tumushime JC, Mangura D, Mapilanga J, Kalonji A, Aruho R, Stryková A, Tehlarová Z, Cameira R, Lowenstine L, Šlapeta J, Romportl D, Ferrari N, Cranfield M, Modrý D. Heterogeneity in patterns of helminth infections across populations of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei).. Sci Rep 2021 May 25;11(1):10869.
- Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 11;11(1).
- Vlčková K, Pafčo B, Petrželková KJ, Modrý D, Todd A, Yeoman CJ, Torralba M, Wilson BA, Stumpf RM, White BA, Nelson KE, Leigh SR, Gomez A. Relationships Between Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and the Fecal Microbiome in Free-Ranging Western Lowland Gorillas.. Front Microbiol 2018;9:1202.
- Lynsdale CL, Santos DJ, Hayward AD, Mar KU, Htut W, Aung HH, Soe AT, Lummaa V. A standardised faecal collection protocol for intestinal helminth egg counts in Asian elephants, Elephas maximus.. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2015 Dec;4(3):307-15.
- Hinney B, Wirtherle NC, Kyule M, Miethe N, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. Prevalence of helminths in horses in the state of Brandenburg, Germany.. Parasitol Res 2011 May;108(5):1083-91.
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