Epidemiological study of strongyle infections in equines in Egypt: prevalence and risk factors.

Overview

• This study investigated how common strongyle parasite infections are in horses and donkeys in Egypt and identified factors that increase the risk of infection.
• The researchers found that about 39% of equines were infected and that certain host characteristics and management practices significantly influenced infection risk.

Background

• Equine strongylosis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by nematode worms called strongyles, which live in the gastrointestinal tract of horses and donkeys.
• The infection negatively affects the health, productivity, and working capacity of equines globally.
• In Egypt, little data existed on how common these infections are and what factors contribute to their prevalence.

Study Design and Methods

• A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted on 540 equines (both horses and donkeys) from three different governorates in Egypt.
• Fresh fecal samples were collected from each animal and examined for strongyle eggs using the magnesium sulfate flotation technique, which is a lab method to detect parasite eggs in stool samples.
• Researchers recorded various animal characteristics and management factors such as sex, age, body condition score, grazing or housing management, and deworming history.
• Statistical analyses used included:
• Chi-square tests to identify associations between infection presence and potential risk factors.
• Multivariable logistic regression to determine which factors independently predicted infection risk when accounting for other variables.

Main Findings

• Overall, 39% of the studied equines were infected with gastrointestinal strongyle parasites.
• The infection rate was slightly higher in horses (40%) compared to donkeys (37%).
• Significant risk factors associated with higher infection rates included:
• Male sex (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.8): Males were nearly three times as likely to be infected compared to females.
• Age under 2 years (OR = 3.1): Younger equines were about three times more likely to be infected than older animals.
• Management involving grazing (OR = 3.4): Animals that grazed were more than three times as likely to be infected compared to those managed differently.
• Poor body condition score (OR = 2.8): Animals in poorer health or nutritional status had higher infection risk.
• Lack of regular deworming (OR = 4.1): Animals not routinely dewormed were over four times more likely to be infected.

Implications

• This study highlights that gastrointestinal strongyle infection is prevalent and presents a significant health concern for equines in Egypt.
• Several host factors (age, sex, body condition) and management practices (grazing system, deworming frequency) strongly influence infection risk.
• Improved grazing management practices could reduce the risk of infection by limiting exposure to infective parasite stages in the environment.
• Implementing strategic and regular deworming protocols is essential to control parasite burdens effectively.
• Increasing equine owner awareness about parasite risks and preventative measures may improve compliance with health management routines.

Recommendations for Future Research

• Future studies should include quantitative fecal egg count measurements to assess the intensity of infections, not just presence or absence.
• Molecular characterization of the strongyle species involved would provide detailed information on parasite diversity and help tailor control methods.
• Longitudinal studies could better clarify causality and track the effectiveness of intervention strategies over time.