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Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria2023; 32(3); e006323; doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612023036

First microscopic and molecular parasitological survey of Strongylus vulgaris in Brazilian ponies.

Abstract: The frequency of gastrointestinal parasites with an emphasis on Strongylus vulgaris was investigated among the Brazilian Pony breed kept on farms in the municipality of Teresópolis, state of Rio de Janeiro. Fecal samples were collected in three stud farms: A (n= 22 animals), B (n= 3), and C (n= 2). Fecal samples were subjected to the quantitative Mini-FLOTAC technique, using three different solutions, and to qualitative techniques. The parasite prevalence was found to be 81.4%. Eggs from strongylids were identified in 74% of the ponies. Eggs of Parascaris spp. were detected in 22.7% of the animals, which were all females of farm A. At this locality, mares were kept with their foals in fenced paddocks all the time. The NaCl solution of d = 1.200 g/ml was generally the one that presented the highest frequency of diagnosis of nematode eggs and the highest mean of fecal eggs per gram. The fecal samples were also subjected to the polymerase chain reaction for amplification of DNA from the ITS2 region for Strongylus vulgaris. Twelve samples presented nucleotide sequences for S. vulgaris. In the end, this study revealed the high frequency (96.3%) of S. vulgaris among ponies on farms in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A frequência de parasitos gastrointestinais, com ênfase na pesquisa de , foi investigada entre os Pôneis Brasileiros criados em haras na cidade de Teresópolis, no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Amostras fecais foram coletadas em três haras: A (n=22 animais), B (n=3) e C (n=2). Amostras fecais foram submetidas à técnica quantitativa de Mini-FLOTAC utilizando três diferentes soluções e técnicas qualitativas. A prevalência de parasitos foi de 81,4%. Ovos de estrôngilos foram identificados em 74% dos pôneis. Ovos de spp. foram detectados em 22,7% dos animais, sendo todos fêmeas do haras A. Nesta propriedade, as éguas eram mantidas com os pôneis em piquetes cercados durante todo o tempo. A solução de NaCl, com densidade de 1.200 g/ml, foi a que apresentou a maior frequência diagnóstica de ovos de nematoides e a maior contagem de ovos por grama de fezes. As amostras também foram submetidas à reação de polimerase em cadeia para amplificar DNA da região ITS2 de . Doze amostras fecais apresentaram sequências nucleotídicas de . Ao final, este estudo demonstrou a alta frequência (96.3%) de em pôneis mantidos em haras na cidade de Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-23 PubMed ID: 37377279PubMed Central: PMC10321716DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612023036Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research highlights the high occurrence of the gastrointestinal parasite, Strongylus vulgaris, in ponies in Teresópolis, Brazil, by using both microscopic evaluation and molecular methods.

Objective of the Study

The primary aim of the research was to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, specifically Strongylus vulgaris, in Brazilian Pony breed kept in farms in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro. The study involved collecting fecal samples from these ponies.

Methods used in the Study

  • Three stud farms, A (22 animals), B (3 animals), and C (2 animals) were the sites for feces collection.
  • Fecal samples were subjected to a quantitative method called the Mini-FLOTAC technique, with three different solutions each of varying densities.
  • The feces were also subjected to qualitative techniques.
  • To identify Strongylus vulgaris specifically, Researchers used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify DNA from the ITS2 region in the fecal samples.

Findings of the Study

  • The overall parasite prevalence in the ponies was found to be 81.4%.
  • Eggs from strongylids (a group of worms to which S. vulgaris belongs) were identified in 74% of the ponies.
  • Eggs of Parascaris spp. were detected in 22.7% of the animals, all of whom were female and belonged to farm A.
  • On farm A, mares and their foals were kept together in fenced paddocks all the time, which might have been a contributing factor to the high incidence of Parascaris spp.
  • Among the three solutions used in the Mini-FLOTAC technique, the NaCl solution with a density of 1.200 g/ml provided the highest diagnoses of nematode eggs and the highest mean of fecal eggs per gram.
  • The study revealed the high prevalence (96.3%) of S. vulgaris among ponies, based on the evaluation of twelve samples that had nucleotide sequences for S. vulgaris.

Conclusion of the Study

The research conclusively highlighted the high frequency of the gastrointestinal parasite, Strongylus vulgaris, among the ponies on farms in Teresópolis, Brazil. This underscores the importance of frequent parasitological surveillance, especially in equine breeding farms, to avoid the potential health threat this parasite poses to the equine population.

Cite This Article

APA
Martins AV, Coelho AL, Corrêa LL, Ribeiro MS, Lobão LF, Palmer JPS, Moura LC, Molento MB, Barbosa ADS. (2023). First microscopic and molecular parasitological survey of Strongylus vulgaris in Brazilian ponies. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet, 32(3), e006323. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612023036

Publication

Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
ISSN: 1984-2961
NlmUniqueID: 9440482
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 3
Pages: e006323
PII: e006323

Researcher Affiliations

Martins, André Vianna
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
  • Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos, Teresópolis, RJ, Brasil.
Coelho, Aline de Lima
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Corrêa, Laís Lisboa
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Ribeiro, Mariana Santos
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Lobão, Lucas Fernandes
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Palmer, João Pedro Siqueira
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Moura, Lucas Cavalcante de
  • Laboratório de Parasitologia e Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos, Teresópolis, RJ, Brasil.
Molento, Marcelo Beltrão
  • Laboratório de Parasitologia Clínica Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
Barbosa, Alynne da Silva
  • Laboratório de Bioagentes Ambientais, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
  • Laboratório de Toxoplasmose e Outras Protozooses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Strongylus / genetics
  • Brazil
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship or publication.

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