Gasterophilus spp. infections in horses from northern and central Kazakhstan.
Abstract: A cross-sectional survey was performed to obtain current data on the gastrointestinal myiasis of horses in the provinces of Kostanay, Akmola and Karagandy, northern and central Kazakhstan. The stomach, small intestine and rectum of 148 slaughter horses were examined for Gasterophilus spp. larvae during a 26-month study period. All horses were infected with 2nd and 3rd stage larvae (mean intensity: 803±350), and 22% of them harboured >1000 Gasterophilus spp. larvae each. Four species were identified: G. intestinalis (prevalence: 100%; mean intensity: 361±240 larvae), G. haemorrhoidalis (100%; 353±191), G. nasalis (100%; 73±36) and G. pecorum (91.2%; 18±10). Horses aged<2 years were higher infected with Gasterophilus larvae than 2-4 years old animals. Both the prevalence and extremely high intensity of Gasterophilus infections of horses in these Kazakh regions suggest respective control measurements to improve the health and performance of the animals and to increase the economic income of horse owners.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-11-25 PubMed ID: 25522954DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.11.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article outlines a study that investigated the prevalence of Gasterophilus spp. infections in horses from northern and central Kazakhstan, revealing that all horses examined were infected and suggesting the need for control measures to improve the animal’s health and benefit horse owners economically.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The study was conducted to gather current data on the gastrointestinal myiasis of horses in the provinces of Kostanay, Akmola and Karagandy, in northern and central Kazakhstan.
- The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey over a period of 26 months.
- They examined the stomach, small intestine, and rectum of 148 horses that were destined for slaughter.
- The focus of the examination was mainly on the presence of Gasterophilus spp. larvae, which are botfly larvae that can cause a parasitic infection in horses.
Findings of the Study
- All the horses were found to have 2nd and 3rd stage Gasterophilus spp. larvae, with an average intensity (mean) of 803±350.
- About 22% of the horses harbored over 1000 Gasterophilus spp. larvae each.
- Four species of Gasterophilus were identified: G. intestinalis, G. haemorrhoidalis, G. nasalis and G. pecorum, with the prevalence of the first three being 100%, and the last occurring in 91.2% of the horses.
- The study also found that Gasterophilus larval infections were higher in horses aged less than 2 years than in those aged between 2-4 years.
Implications and Recommendations
- The extremely high prevalence and intensity of Gasterophilus infections in horses in the studied regions suggest a serious and widespread health issue among the horse population in these areas.
- Due to the adverse health implications and potential decrease in performance that these infections can cause, the study suggests that control measures should be taken.
- Implementing control measures would not only improve the health and performance of the horses but could also enhance the economic income of horse owners.
Cite This Article
APA
Ibrayev B, Lider L, Bauer C.
(2014).
Gasterophilus spp. infections in horses from northern and central Kazakhstan.
Vet Parasitol, 207(1-2), 94-98.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.11.015 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- S Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 62 Prospect Pobedy, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan.
- S Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 62 Prospect Pobedy, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan.
- S Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 62 Prospect Pobedy, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan; Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: christian.bauer@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
MeSH Terms
- Age Distribution
- Animals
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Diptera / classification
- Diptera / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Intestine, Small / parasitology
- Kazakhstan / epidemiology
- Larva
- Male
- Myiasis / epidemiology
- Myiasis / parasitology
- Myiasis / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Rectum / parasitology
- Seasons
- Sex Distribution
- Stomach / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Huang H, Zhang K, Shao C, Wang C, Ente M, Wang Z, Zhang D, Li K. Spatial distribution of Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera) eggs in the desert steppe of the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (Xinjiang, China). BMC Ecol Evol 2021 Sep 6;21(1):169.
- Zhou R, Yang J, Zhang K, Qi Y, Ma W, Wang Z, Ente M, Li K. Analysis of volatiles from feces of released Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) in Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) spawning habitat. Sci Rep 2021 Aug 2;11(1):15671.
- Huang H, Zhang K, Zhang B, Liu S, Chu H, Qi Y, Zhang D, Li K. Analysis on the relationship between winter precipitation and the annual variation of horse stomach fly community in arid desert steppe, Northwest China (2007-2019). Integr Zool 2022 Jan;17(1):128-138.
- Zhang K, Huang H, Zhou R, Zhang B, Wang C, Ente M, Li B, Zhang D, Li K. The impact of temperature on the life cycle of Gasterophilus pecorum in northwest China. Parasit Vectors 2021 Mar 1;14(1):129.
- Gliga DS, Petrova N, Linnell JDC, Salemgareyev AR, Zuther S, Walzer C, Kaczensky P. Dynamics of Gastro-Intestinal Strongyle Parasites in a Group of Translocated, Wild-Captured Asiatic Wild Asses in Kazakhstan. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:598371.
- Zhou R, Zhang K, Zhang T, Zhou T, Chu H, Ge Y, Wang C, Li K. Identification of volatile components from oviposition and non-oviposition plants of Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae). Sci Rep 2020 Sep 25;10(1):15731.
- Huang H, Zhang B, Chu H, Zhang D, Li K. Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) infestation of equids in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China. Parasite 2016;23:36.
- Liu SH, Hu DF, Li K. Oviposition site selection by Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) in its habitat in Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. Parasite 2015;22:34.
- Uakhit R, Bauer C, Smagulova A, Kiyan V. First Reported Case of Accidental Gastric Myiasis Caused by Gasterophilus Larvae in a Gray Wolf. Acta Parasitol 2025 Mar 20;70(2):72.
- Rabei ȘO, Cârstolovean AS, Culda CA, Mihalca AD. Gasterophilus in horses from Romania: diversity, prevalence, seasonal dynamics, and distribution. Parasitol Res 2024 Dec 23;123(12):416.
- Zhang Y, Zhang K, Wang M, Wu X, Liu J, Chu H, Zhang D, Li K, Huang H. Studies on the embryonic development and larval infection potential of the stomach bot flies, Gasterophilus pecorum. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024 Apr;23:100917.
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