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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Dynamics of Parascaris and Strongylus spp. parasites in untr...
Veterinary parasitology2016; 230; 62-66; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.002

Dynamics of Parascaris and Strongylus spp. parasites in untreated juvenile horses.

Abstract: Parasite control in foals is of utmost importance due to the high susceptibility to parasitic infection and disease in this age group. Foals are commonly co-infected with strongyle and ascarid parasites, which complicate parasite control strategies. The present study retrospectively investigated necropsy records of foals born into a university herd kept without anthelmintic treatment since 1979. The aims were to statistically analyze the relationship between fecal egg counts, worm burdens, foal age, sex, and season with specific focus on Parascaris and Strongylus spp. A total of 83 foals born between 1999 and 2015 were included. Foals were born between January and September within the given year and age at necropsy ranged between 27 and 563 days of age with a mean and median of 202 and 204 days, respectively. One set of multivariate mixed linear models was constructed analyzing strongyle and ascarid fecal egg counts as outcome variables, and another set of analyses investigated the following worm counts as outcome variables: Intestinal Parascaris spp. counts (immatures and adults), S. vulgaris (migrating and intestinal stages), S. edentatus (migrating and intestinal stages). Both ascarid and strongyle egg counts were influenced significantly by differences between study years (p<0.05). In addition, total ascarid egg counts were statistically influenced by age (p=0.020) exhibiting a peak at four months of age and fillies had significantly higher ascarid worm burdens (p=0.043). Foal age had significant influences on intestinal counts of immature Parascaris spp. (p=0.034) and adult S. edentatus counts (p=0.028). Larval counts of S. edentatus were significantly associated with birth month (p=0.023), whereas counts of migrating S. vulgaris larvae were not statistically associated with any of the investigated covariates. This study provides novel information on the dynamics of important parasites in naturally infected foals.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2016-11-07 PubMed ID: 27884444DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study investigates the occurrence and patterns of parasitic infections in untreated horses. Specifically, it focuses on the parasites Parascaris and Strongylus spp in foals (juvenile horses), examining factors such as the foal’s age, sex, and season, as well as the relationship between fecal egg counts and worm burdens.

Study Methodology

The study utilized a retrospective design, looking at necropsy records of foals from a university herd never treated with anthelmintic, a kind of medicine used to destroy parasitic worms, since 1979. The spectrum of the study involved 83 foals born between 1999 and 2015. Factors examined include:

  • The foals’ age and sex
  • Strongyle and ascarid fecal egg counts
  • Intestinal Parascaris spp. counts
  • S. vulgaris (migrating and intestinal stages) and S. edentatus (migrating and intestinal stages) worm counts

Study Findings

The research unearthed several notable conclusions, among them:

  • Both ascarid and strongyle egg counts vary significantly across different study years.
  • Total ascarid egg counts are influenced by the foal’s age, peaking at approximately four months.
  • Filly foals (young females) showed a significantly higher ascarid worm burden compared to male foals.
  • The foal’s age significantly influences intestinal counts of immature Parascaris spp. and adult S. edentatus.
  • Larval counts of S. edentatus showed a significant association with the foal’s birth month.
  • The study found no statistically significant associations between the counts of migrating S. vulgaris larvae and any of the investigated factors.

In summary, this research paper contributes valuable data regarding the dynamics of parasitic infections in untreated foals. The influence of factors such as the foal’s age, sex, and season on worm burdens could prove beneficial for future parasite control strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Fabiani JV, Lyons ET, Nielsen MK. (2016). Dynamics of Parascaris and Strongylus spp. parasites in untreated juvenile horses. Vet Parasitol, 230, 62-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.002

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 230
Pages: 62-66
PII: S0304-4017(16)30434-4

Researcher Affiliations

Fabiani, J V
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Lyons, E T
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Nielsen, M K
  • M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: martin.nielsen@uky.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Ascaridida Infections / parasitology
  • Ascaridida Infections / prevention & control
  • Ascaridida Infections / veterinary
  • Ascaridoidea
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Intestines / parasitology
  • Male
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seasons
  • Sex Factors
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
  • Strongylida Infections / prevention & control
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary
  • Strongylus

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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  9. Ai S, Zhang Z, Wang J, Wang X, Liu C, Duan Z. Prevalence and molecular identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. Vet Med Sci 2023 Nov;9(6):2693-2702.
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