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[Endoparasites of donkeys and horses kept in communal housing in Upper Bavaria; species spectrum and incidence].
Abstract: In this epidemiological study of endoparasites 37 donkeys and 23 horses were included, which were examined coproscopically in regular intervals over a 15 month period. The animals derived from ten farms, in which regular prophylactic treatments with anthelmintics had been practiced at least for two years before this investigation. This study revealed the presence of at least twelve parasite species in donkeys, Eimeria leuckarti, Gasterophilus intestinalis, Fasciola hepatica, Anoplocephala perfoliata, Strongyloides westeri, Parascaris equorum, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, Trichostrongylus axei and small strongyles, whose third stage larvae were characterized by eight, twelve, 16 or 18 intestinal cells. At least four parasite species were established in horses, E. leuckarti, G. intestinalis, P. equorum and small strongyles, whose third stage larvae were provided with eight intestinal cells. Infections with E. leuckarti, S. westeri and P. equorum were encountered in foals only and with D. arnfieldi in 16.2% of the donkeys. Incidences for small strongyles were highest, exhibiting neither age- and farm-dependent nor host species-dependent differences and amounting to 91.9% in donkey and 86.6% in horses. Considering all donkeys and horses, 35.1% and 43.5%, respectively, were infected at least with two, and 29.7% and 4.3%, respectively, with three parasite species. The species composition of the endoparasite fauna was always dominated by small strongyles. This field study indicates that the species composition of the endoparasite fauna in comparison to former investigations has not or only slightly changed in spite of widespread use of broad-spectrum anthelmintics for years. In addition, it has to be considered that donkeys continue to act as reservoir of D. arnfieldi and as source of infection for horses.
Publication Date: 1996-10-01 PubMed ID: 8999593 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.
- Comparative Study
- English Abstract
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the presence and occurrence of different species of internal parasites in donkeys and horses that are kept together in communal housing in Upper Bavaria. Even with the previous regular use of anthelmintic drugs for at least two years, there is still a wide variety of parasites present in the animals, some of which are more prevalent than others, with no significant change in the spectrum of parasites.
Objective and Methodology
- The aim of the study was to identify the types and prevalence of endoparasites in communal living donkeys and horses, despite routine prophylactic use of anthelmintics – a type of medication that kills worms and parasites.
- The research spanned 15 months, during which regular fecal tests were conducted on 37 donkeys and 23 horses from ten different farms. The farms had been using the prophylactic anthelmintics treatment regularly for at least two years before the study was conducted.
Findings
- The study identified twelve different species of parasites in donkeys and four different species in horses.
- The common parasites amongst both horses and donkeys included Eimeria leuckarti, Gasterophilus intestinalis, Parascaris equorum, and small strongyles. However, the research also found exclusive parasites present in each species, such as the Strongyloides westeri and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi in donkeys, and other unnamed larvae in horses.
- Only young foals were found to be infested with E. leuckarti, S. westeri, and P. equorum, while D. arnfieldi was present only in 16.2% of the donkeys sampled.
- Small strongyles were the most prevalent parasites, found in 91.9% of donkeys and 86.6% of horses, irrespective of the age, breed or farm of origin. This indicates these parasites are highly resistant to anthelmintic treatment.
Implications
- The study has significant implications for animal health management. Despite the routine use of broad-spectrum anthelmintics, there is little to no change in the variety of parasites present, highlighting the persistence and resilience of these parasites.
- Farmers and owners of horses and donkeys must be aware that donkeys can act as reservoirs for specific parasites, such as D. arnfieldi and can infect horses, thus commingling of species should be done with caution.
Cite This Article
APA
Beelitz P, Göbel E, Gothe R.
(1996).
[Endoparasites of donkeys and horses kept in communal housing in Upper Bavaria; species spectrum and incidence].
Tierarztl Prax, 24(5), 471-475.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut für Vergleichende Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae
- Female
- Germany / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases / classification
- Intestinal Diseases / epidemiology
- Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Larva
- Male
- Parasitic Diseases / classification
- Parasitic Diseases / epidemiology
- Parasitic Diseases, Animal
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Buono F, Veneziano V, Veronesi F, Molento MB. Horse and donkey parasitology: differences and analogies for a correct diagnostic and management of major helminth infections. Parasitology 2023 Oct;150(12):1119-1138.
- Jürgenschellert L, Krücken 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.
- Rasche A, Lehmann F, Goldmann N, Nagel M, Moreira-Soto A, Nobach D, de Oliveira Carneiro I, Osterrieder N, Greenwood AD, Steinmann E, Lukashev AN, Schuler G, Glebe D, Drexler JF. A hepatitis B virus causes chronic infections in equids worldwide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 Mar 30;118(13).
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