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Home / Equine Research Bank / Trop Anim Health Prod / Endoparasitism and risk factors in horses from ethnic commun...
Tropical animal health and production2024; 56(8); 281; doi: 10.1007/s11250-024-04116-6

Endoparasitism and risk factors in horses from ethnic communities in Andean areas of southern Chile.

Abstract: Parasitic infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in horses worldwide. In the Andean mountainous regions of Chile, horses are a highly valued specie, playing a key role as working animals also providing support in cattle transhumance grazing into high mountainous areas during dry season. The breeding and maintenance of horses in the mountainous region of La Araucanía in Chile is a key issue allowing to the subsistence economy of communities with a strong ethnic component represented by Mapuche-Pehuenche origin families. However, the health status of these animals is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine endoparasitic infections in horses from this area and the main factors that may influence parasitism. Thus, a cross-sectional study performed in 126 working horses from Andean region was achieved by using different coproparasitologycal analyses, resulting in a 97,6% of prevalence of endoparasitism with the strongyle eggs showing the highest prevalence of infection in analysed horses (96%) followed by Oxyuris equi (27%), Parascaris equorum (17,5%) and protozoans including ciliates (11,1%), Blastocystis spp (5,6%), Giardia spp (2,4%) and Cryptosporidium spp (1,6%) highlighting zoonotic relevance of some of these species. Concerning risk factors, the high prevalence suggests that exposure was high regardless of age or sex. The higher proportion of infected horses were grazing compared to those stabled, likewise drinking non-potable water, being these the main risks factors linked to the high prevalence of horse infections in Andean communities here studied.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2024-09-25 PubMed ID: 39320596PubMed Central: 10667452DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04116-6Google 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.

Endoparasitic infections are highly prevalent in working horses from the Andean region of southern Chile, with major risk factors including grazing habits and consumption of non-potable water.

Study Background and Importance

  • Parasitic infections are a leading cause of illness and death in horses globally.
  • In Chile’s Andean mountainous regions, horses are essential for work and cattle grazing support during dry seasons.
  • The La Araucanía region has indigenous Mapuche-Pehuenche families who rely on horse breeding for their subsistence economy.
  • Despite horses’ importance, their health status, especially regarding parasitic infections, was previously unknown in this area.

Study Objectives

  • Assess the prevalence of endoparasitic infections in horses from the Andean region of southern Chile.
  • Identify the main risk factors associated with parasitism in this population.

Methods

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Sampling of 126 working horses from the Andean region.
  • Use of multiple coproparasitological analyses (examining fecal samples) to detect infections.

Key Findings

  • Extremely high overall prevalence of endoparasitism at 97.6% among horses.
  • Strongyle eggs were the most prevalent parasite found, affecting 96% of horses.
  • Other identified parasites included:
    • Oxyuris equi (pinworms): 27%
    • Parascaris equorum (roundworms): 17.5%
    • Protozoans such as ciliates (11.1%), Blastocystis spp. (5.6%), Giardia spp. (2.4%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (1.6%).
  • Some protozoan parasites identified have significant zoonotic potential, meaning they can infect humans.
  • Endoparasite prevalence was high across all ages and sexes, indicating widespread exposure.
  • Horses that grazed outdoors had a higher infection rate compared to horses kept in stables.
  • Consumption of non-potable (unfiltered or untreated) water was another major risk factor linked to higher parasitic infection rates.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The near-ubiquitous presence of endoparasitic infection suggests intense environmental exposure in this Andean horse population.
  • Management factors such as grazing practices and water source quality play major roles in parasite transmission.
  • Given the zoonotic potential of some parasites detected, there may be additional public health concerns for indigenous communities relying heavily on these horses.
  • Improved parasite control, veterinary care, and water sanitation measures should be considered to reduce infection levels and protect the health of horses and humans in these communities.

Cite This Article

APA
Muñoz-Caro T, Gavilán P, Villanueva J, Oberg C, Herrera C, Fonseca-Salamanca F, Hidalgo A. (2024). Endoparasitism and risk factors in horses from ethnic communities in Andean areas of southern Chile. Trop Anim Health Prod, 56(8), 281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-04116-6

Publication

Tropical animal health and production
ISSN: 1573-7438
NlmUniqueID: 1277355
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 8
Pages: 281

Researcher Affiliations

Muñoz-Caro, Tamara
  • Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca, Chile.
Gavilán, Paula
  • Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca, Chile.
Villanueva, José
  • Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional (CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
  • Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Oberg, Carlos
  • Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional (CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Herrera, Christian
  • Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional (CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Fonseca-Salamanca, Flery
  • Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional (CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Hidalgo, Alejandro
  • Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional (CEMT), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. alejandro.hidalgo@ufrontera.cl.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Chile / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / epidemiology

Grant Funding

  • 11200103 / FONDECYT

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