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Veterinary sciences2025; 12(7); 644; doi: 10.3390/vetsci12070644

Epidemiological Patterns of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Equine Populations from Urumqi and Ili, Xinjiang, China.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal parasitic diseases pose significant health risks to equine populations. This study investigated the epidemiological patterns of equine gastrointestinal parasites in Xinjiang by analyzing 83 fecal samples collected from Ili ( = 62) and Urumqi ( = 21) between August and November 2024. The modified McMaster technique was employed to quantify fecal egg counts (EPG) and was complemented by morphological identification to assess infection dynamics related to geography, breed specificity, and management practices. The results demonstrated an overall infection prevalence of 66.3% (55/83), with strongyles, , and oocysts being present. Significant geographical variation was observed, with Ili exhibiting a higher prevalence (74.2%) compared to Urumqi (42.9%). Breed susceptibility analysis revealed that there was a 94.1% prevalence in Yili horses versus 42.9% in Kazakh horses. Pasture-managed herds showed markedly higher infection rates (94.1%) than stable-based systems (50.0%). Parasite community composition was dominated by strongyles (82.1%), followed by spp. (27.7%) and (2.4%). These findings highlight severe parasitic infection risks in Xinjiang's grazing equids, underscoring the urgency of implementing targeted anthelmintic protocols to mitigate disease transmission.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-06 PubMed ID: 40711304PubMed Central: PMC12299244DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12070644Google 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.

The study focuses on understanding and identifying the trends of gastrointestinal parasites that pose a threat to horse health in Xinjiang, China. It particularly examines parasite patterns through 83 stool samples collected across two regions, Ili and Urumqi, and discusses how aspects such as geography, breed, and management methods affect infection rates.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers in this study used a range of techniques to identify and understand the spread of parasitic infections in horses.
  • A total of 83 fecal samples were collected from two regions of Xinjiang – Ili and Urumqi – between August and November 2024.
  • A modified McMaster technique was used to count fecal egg counts (EPG), providing an indication of the intensity of different parasitic infections.
  • Morphological identification was used alongside to understand various aspects of infection such as breed-specific susceptibility and geographical variation.

Findings

  • From the samples collected, an overall infection prevalence of 66.3% (55 out of 83) was found.
  • The main parasites identified were strongyles and oocysts, with a significant geographical variation being observed.
  • The area of Ili had a much higher prevalence (74.2%) when compared to Urumqi (42.9%).
  • Assessment of breed susceptibility revealed a striking 94.1% prevalence in Yili horses versus a 42.9% prevalence in Kazakh horses.
  • Notably, herd management played a significant role in infection rates. Pasture-managed herds were found to have significantly higher infection rates (94.1%) than among those in stable-based systems (50.0%).

Conclusions

  • The results of this study highlight the high risks horses in Xinjiang face from parasitic infections, particularly in pasture-based management systems.
  • The main parasite, strongyles, dominated the parasite community composition in the samples, accounting for 82.1%, followed by Mini-Moniezia spp. (27.7%) and Moniezia spp. (2.4%).
  • The findings underscore the urgent necessity to introduce targeted anthelmintic measures to lessen the disease transmission in these equine populations.

Cite This Article

APA
Lu Y, Ru P, Qin S, Zhang Y, Fu E, Cai M, Tuohuti N, Wu H, Zhang Y, Zhang Y. (2025). Epidemiological Patterns of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Equine Populations from Urumqi and Ili, Xinjiang, China. Vet Sci, 12(7), 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070644

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 7
PII: 644

Researcher Affiliations

Lu, Yabin
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Ru, Penghui
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Qin, Sinan
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Zhang, Yukun
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Fu, Enning
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Cai, Mingyue
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Tuohuti, Nuermaimaiti
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Wu, Hui
  • Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Center, Urumqi 830000, China.
Zhang, Yi
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Zhang, Yang
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Saha S, Gupta M, Saha R, Saqib M, Korotkova EI, Kar PK. Climatic and Host-Related Drivers of Gastrointestinal Parasite Dynamics in Domestic Ruminants of North Bengal, India. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 22;16(2).
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  2. Zhu Q, Khan MZ, Peng Y, Wang C. A Comparative Review of Donkey Genetic Resources, Production Traits, and Industrial Utilization: Perspectives from China and Globally. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 21;15(23).
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