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Veterinary parasitology1987; 23(1-2); 121-133; doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(87)90030-6

Development and survival of free-living stages of equine strongyles under laboratory conditions.

Abstract: In a series of laboratory studies the optimum conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of strongyle parasites occurring in horses in tropical north Queensland were determined. No differences in behaviour were noted between the strongyle species. Development to the infective stage occurred only between 10 and 35 degrees C. The rate was affected by temperature, taking 15-24 days and 3 days, respectively, at the lowest and highest temperatures for the developing stages to reach the infective third stage. Yields of infective larvae were very low outside the range 20-33 degrees C, and were highest at 28 degrees C. Survival of infective larvae was good between 20 and 33 degrees C, and large numbers were recovered after 3 months in faeces incubated at 20-28 degrees C. At 33 and 37 degrees C larval survival was affected by the moisture content of the faeces, with infective larvae surviving better in dry than in moist faeces; even a residual moisture level of 40% significantly reduced the number of larvae recovered from faeces incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 month. Moisture also affected larval development, especially at the higher temperatures of 25-39 degrees C. When faecal moisture content fell to less than or equal to 20% by 3 days, larvae which had not yet reached the infective stage were still pre-infective at 7 days, while all larvae in faeces with adequate moisture had reached the infective third stage. It was not possible to determine the critical faecal moisture level below which larval development ceased, however, 28 degrees C (range 25-33 degrees C) was found to be the optimum temperature. Larval development was very rapid and yields of infective larvae highest at this temperature.
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Publication Date: 1987-01-01 PubMed ID: 3564339DOI: 10.1016/0304-4017(87)90030-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article explores the optimal conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of horse strongyle parasites. It found that temperatures between 10 and 35 degrees C allow for development to the infective stage, and that yield and survival of infective larvae were highest at 28 degrees C when the faecal moisture content was controlled.

Strongyle Parasite Development and Survival

Researchers conducted a series of laboratory experiments to better understand the behavior of Strongyle parasites which commonly infect equine species in tropical north Queensland. Important observations include:

  • The development to the infective stage of the parasites happened only under temperatures ranging between 10 and 35 degrees Celsius.
  • The development rate is dependent on temperature, taking as long as 15 to 24 days at the lower end of the temperature range, and as short as 3 days at the higher end, for the parasites to reach the infective stages.
  • Yields of infectible larvae were negligible outside of the 20 to 33 degrees Celsius range, reaching their peak at 28 degrees Celsius.

Effect of Moisture Level on Larval Survival

Survival of Infective Larvae

The survival of infective larvae was found to have an intricate link with the moisture content of feces. Considerations are:

  • Infective larvae survival was good within the temperature range of 20 to 33 degrees Celsius.
  • At temperatures of 33 and 37 degrees Celsius, the moisture content of the feces had a significant impact on larval survival. The larvae had better chances of survival in dry feces compared to moist feces.
  • Even a residual moisture level of 40% significantly reduced the number of larvae recovered from feces incubated at 37 degrees Celsius for a month.

Impact of Moisture on Larval Development

Moisture content also had a noticeable impact on larval development, especially at elevated temperatures:

  • When the fecal moisture content dropped to 20% or lower by the third day, larvae that hadn’t reached the infective stage remained to be pre-infective at the end of the week.
  • In contrast, all larvae in feces that maintained an adequate moisture level had reached the infective third stage.
  • The optimal temperature for larval development was found to be 28 degrees Celsius with a range between 25 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Cite This Article

APA
Mfitilodze MW, Hutchinson GW. (1987). Development and survival of free-living stages of equine strongyles under laboratory conditions. Vet Parasitol, 23(1-2), 121-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(87)90030-6

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 121-133

Researcher Affiliations

Mfitilodze, M W
    Hutchinson, G W

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Feces / parasitology
      • Horses
      • Larva
      • Strongyle Infections, Equine / parasitology
      • Strongyloidea / growth & development
      • Temperature

      Citations

      This article has been cited 13 times.
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        doi: 10.3390/ani11051345pubmed: 34065099google scholar: lookup
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      4. Tydén E, Jansson A, Ringmark S. Parasites in Horses Kept in A 2.5 Year-Round Grazing System in Nordic Conditions without Supplementary Feeding. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 17;9(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9121156pubmed: 31861066google scholar: lookup
      5. Hernández JÁ, Sánchez-Andrade R, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Arroyo FL, Sanchís JM, Paz-Silva A, Arias MS. A combined effort to avoid strongyle infection in horses in an oceanic climate region: rotational grazing and parasiticidal fungi. Parasit Vectors 2018 Apr 12;11(1):240.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2827-3pubmed: 29650055google scholar: lookup
      6. Love S, Burden FA, McGirr EC, Gordon L, Denwood MJ. Equine Cyathostominae can develop to infective third-stage larvae on straw bedding. Parasit Vectors 2016 Aug 31;9(1):478.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1757-1pubmed: 27581072google scholar: lookup
      7. Drag M, Höglund J, Nejsum P, Thamsborg SM, Enemark HL. The level of embryonation influences detection of Ostertagia ostertagi eggs by semi-quantitative PCR. Parasit Vectors 2016 Jun 29;9(1):368.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1657-4pubmed: 27357701google scholar: lookup
      8. Malek IA, Baharudin F, Peng TL, Sabri J. Development and Survivability of The Free-Living Stage Larvae of Equine Strongyles in Different Environments and Soil Types. Trop Life Sci Res 2025 Oct;36(3):101-120.
        doi: 10.21315/tlsr2025.36.3.5pubmed: 41356397google scholar: lookup
      9. Jamshidpour R, Nabavi R, Moadab H, Rezaie F, Chale AC, Sargison N. Evaluation of Benzimidazole Resistance in Equine Cyathostomins in the Kermanshah Province of Iran Using Coprological Analysis and Allele-Specific PCR. Iran J Parasitol 2025 Jul-Sep;20(3):389-399.
        doi: 10.18502/ijpa.v20i3.19614pubmed: 41181201google scholar: lookup
      10. Ochigbo GO, Ahn S, Belhumeur KA, Poissant J, Rosa BV. Nemabiome sequencing reveals seasonal and age associated patterns of strongyle infection and high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris in Alberta feral horses. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2025 Aug;27:101091.
        doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101091pubmed: 40524829google scholar: lookup
      11. Hamad MH, Jitsamai W, Chinkangsadarn T, Ngangam TS, Wattanapornpilom T, Naraporn D, Ouisuwan S, Taweethavonsawat P. Prevalence, risk factors, and species diversity of strongylid nematodes in domesticated Thai horses: insights from ITS-2 rDNA metabarcoding. Parasitol Res 2024 Dec 17;123(12):410.
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        doi: 10.1017/S0031182024001185pubmed: 39663810google scholar: lookup
      13. Hamad MH, Islam SI, Jitsamai W, Chinkangsadarn T, Naraporn D, Ouisuwan S, Taweethavonsawat P. Metabarcoding study to reveal the structural community of strongylid nematodes in domesticated horses in Thailand. BMC Vet Res 2024 Feb 24;20(1):70.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03934-ypubmed: 38395874google scholar: lookup
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