Evaluation of risk factors affecting strongylid egg shedding on Hungarian horse farms.

This research article reveals that factors such as age, deworming medication, and horse density levels on farms significantly affect the amount of strongylid eggs (parasites) shed by horses in Hungary. It calls for regular monitoring and strategic control of these variables to lower the prevalence of parasitic infection.

Study Objective and Methodology

• The study aimed to identify factors influencing the number and prevalence of strongylid parasite eggs in horses. Emphasis was laid on understanding the relationship between deworming treatment, age, and horse population density with the strongylid egg count.
• The research was conducted on 13 farms in Pest county, Hungary, involving 216 horses and their fecal samples.
• A Mini-FLOTAC test, a method used to count parasitic eggs in fecal samples, was employed. Information regarding the horses’ age, pasture history, population density, and deworming history was also collected and factored into the study.
• The researchers made used of logistic regression models to evaluate the relationship between the collected data and the strongylid egg count.

Findings

• The research unearthed that 22% of the examined horses were responsible for 80% of the total strongylid egg output, indicating an unequal spread of parasitic infection among the horse population.
• Young horses (less than 5 years) were found to have significantly higher counts of strongylid eggs compared to equids in the 5-17-year age range and those over 17 years of age.
• Horses that were treated regularly with benzimidazoles, a class of deworming medication, had a higher prevalence of strongylid eggs compared to horses with no history of benzimidazole use.
• The study also found a direct correlation between high horse population density and increased strongylid egg counts. Horses maintained at extremely high stocking densities (>30 horses/ha) had significantly higher fecal egg counts.

Implications and Suggestions

• The findings highlight the need for consistent fecal egg count (FEC) monitoring in horses, especially young horses and those in high-density populations, to effectively manage and control strongylid parasitic infections.
• The efficacy of benzimidazoles, a common deworming medication, should be thoroughly investigated. The study revealed an unclear relationship between its use and the increased prevalence of strongylid eggs. This could point towards potential resistance developed by parasites to anthelmintics.
• The research findings also encourage a reconsideration of horse stocking densities. High stocking densities were significantly associated with high FECs, suggesting density reduction could play a part in managing parasitic infections.