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Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths of equines in Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract: The prevalence of equines helminthosis studied from November 2011 to May 2012 in two agroecological zones Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence, and to see the distribution of internal helminth parasites of equines. A total of 500 faecal samples collected for coprological examination of gastrointestinal helminth ova. From each species of studied animals 200 positive faecal samples were pooled and cultured, and then the larvae recovered and identified. The coprological examination revealed 100 % Strongyle, 16.6 % Fasciola species, 10.2 % Parascaris equorum, 2.1 % Oxyuris equi, 1.1 % Strongyloides westeri, and 0.7 % Gastrodiscus species in donkeys. The coproscopic examination of horse faeces revealed prevalence of 100 % Strongyle, 17.5 % Fasciola species, 5.5 % Parascaris equorum, 1.4 % Oxyuris equi, 0.5 % Strongyloides westeri. A statistically significant variations in the prevalence of equines helminthes were not observed among putative risk factors (P > 0.05), except in the case of Parascaris equorum and Fasciola species, in which statistical significant variations were observed with age and purpose of the animal, respectively (P < 0.05). The average egg per gram of faeces in this study was 689.8, with a range of 100-1,600 eggs per gram of faeces. Statistically significant variations in mean eggs per gram of faeces were observed in all the considered putative risk factors (P < 0.05), except in the case of sexes. The coproculture performed on 200 pooled faecal samples revealed that Cyathostome species, Strongyius vulgaris, Trichostrongylus axei, Triodontophorus species, Strongylus equinus, Strongylus edentatus and Oesophagodontus robustus were the major helminth parasites of equines in Damot-Gale district, Wolaita.
Publication Date: 2013-09-03 PubMed ID: 26064026PubMed Central: PMC4456530DOI: 10.1007/s12639-013-0352-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research delved into the prevalence of internal helminth parasites among equines (horses, donkeys, etc.) in Damot-Gale district, Southern Ethiopia. The study, operated from November 2011 to May 2012, sought to evaluate how widespread these parasites are within the equine population and how the parasites are distributed.

Study Methodology

  • The research was carried out in two different agroecological zones within the Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone of Southern Ethiopia.
  • The investigation required coprological examinations of 500 collected faecal samples from various equines for the presence of gastrointestinal helminth ova, and 200 positive samples were cultured.
  • The larvae within these samples were then recovered and identified by means of coproculture.

Findings of the Research

The coprological examination brought to light the presence of diverse helminth species in both donkeys and horses:

  • In donkeys, 100% had Strongyle parasites, 16.6% harboured Fasciola species, 10.2% had Parascaris equorum, 2.1% hosted Oxyuris equi, 1.1% carried Strongyloides westeri, and 0.7% had Gastrodiscus species.
  • Horses showed a prevalence of 100% Strongyle, 17.5% Fasciola species, 5.5% Parascaris equorum, 1.4% Oxyuris equi, and 0.5% Strongyloides westeri.

Assessment of Risk Factors

  • The researchers did not observe significant variations in the prevalence of equine helminthes among various considered risk factors, with a P value greater than 0.05.
  • Exceptions were found in the case of Parascaris equorum and Fasciola species where significant statistical variations were linked to age and the purpose of the animal respectively, with a P value less than 0.05.

Examining Egg Count

  • An average of 689.8 eggs was found for every gram of faeces, with a range of 100 to 1,600 eggs per gram.
  • Significant statistical differences were observed in the mean eggs per gram of faeces in all the considered putative risk factors (P < 0.05), except for the case of sexes.

Major Helminth Parasites Identified

Coproculture performed on the pooled faecal samples revealed various major helminth parasites of equines in the Damot-Gale district, Wolaita. These included Cyathostome species, Strongyius vulgaris, Trichostrongylus axei, Triodontophorus species, Strongylus equinus, Strongylus edentatus and Oesophagodontus robustus.

Cite This Article

APA
Sheferaw D, Alemu M. (2013). Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths of equines in Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. J Parasit Dis, 39(2), 315-320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-013-0352-z

Publication

ISSN: 0971-7196
NlmUniqueID: 9713059
Country: India
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 2
Pages: 315-320

Researcher Affiliations

Sheferaw, Desie
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Alemu, Melese
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Mesafint E, Dejene H, Maru M, Tarekegn ZS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia.. J Parasit Dis 2023 Sep;47(3):451-464.
    doi: 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3pubmed: 37520199google scholar: lookup
  2. Mathewos M, Girma D, Fesseha H, Yirgalem M, Eshetu E. Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminthiasis in Horses and Donkeys of Hawassa District, Southern Ethiopia.. Vet Med Int 2021;2021:6686688.
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  3. Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 11;11(1).
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  4. Seyoum Z, Tesfaye M, Derso S. Prevalence, intensity and risk factors of infestation with major gastrointestinal nematodes in equines in and around Shashemane, Southern Ethiopia.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2015 Dec;47(8):1515-21.
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