Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Gastrointestinal helminths of ponies in Louisiana: a comparison of species currently prevalent with those present 20 years ago.
Abstract: A survey in Louisiana of gastrointestinal helminths recovered at necropsy from 117 ponies with minimal exposure to anthelmintics between 1989 and 2000 is compared with a survey conducted 20 yr earlier in the same region. An objective of this study was to determine whether species diversity has been affected by the advent and use of the macrocyclic lactone (ML) parasiticides and by the increased anthelmintic pressure on the helminth species infecting the general equine population. Twenty-six cyathostome species and 8 strongyle species were recovered. Two cyathostome species that were not found before, Cylicostephanus asymetricus and C. bidentatus, and 1 species of large strongyle, Oesophagodontus robustus, were added to the list of species found in Louisiana. All cyathostome and large strongyle species found previously were still present. But prevalences and intensities were significantly reduced for almost all large and small strongyle species. Prevalences and intensities of Oxyuris equi adults and larvae were reduced, whereas the prevalence of Parascaris equorum remained constant. The tapeworm Paranoplocephala mamillana was added to the list of parasite species found in Louisiana. Anoplocephala perfoliata remained the most common cestode. This species was found at the same level of intensity but increased slightly in prevalence. Anoplocephala magna was found less frequently than previously. The overall diversity of species remained reatively unchanged. The reasons for the differences in intensity and prevalence of strongyles between these 2 periods are unknown but might be related to the development and use of the broad-spectrum ML anthelmintics in the intervening period, a difference in the population of equids surveyed, different techniques used to identify the parasites, or differences in numbers of parasites identified (or to all).
Publication Date: 2003-01-23 PubMed ID: 12537106DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[1130:GHOPIL]2.0.CO;2Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study investigated the changes in gastrointestinal parasites affecting ponies in Louisiana over a period of 20 years, specifically evaluating whether the use of anti-parasitic drugs and overall infection pressure has impacted parasite diversity.
Research Objective
- The study aimed to understand if the diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in ponies from Louisiana has changed over two decades. A significant portion of this study is dedicated to figuring out how the use of macrocyclic lactone (ML) parasiticides – a type of anti-parasitic medication – and increased exposure to parasites has affected parasite species diversity.
Methods
- The research was conducted by comparing two surveys, one from 20 years ago, and a recent survey conducted from 1989 to 2000. The test subjects were 117 ponies with minimal exposure to anti-parasitic drugs.
- These ponies were necropsied (an autopsy for animals) to recover and identify the parasites.
Findings
- A total of 26 cyathostome (small strongyle) species and 8 strongyle species were found. Furthermore, three new species, not previously detected in the area, were identified, namely: Cylicostephanus asymetricus, C. bidentatus (both small strongyles), and Oesophagodontus robustus (a large strongyle).
- While all previously identified species were still apparent, both the prevalence and intensity of infections for almost all large and small strongyle species were observed to be significantly reduced.
- The prevalences and intensities of Oxyuris equi (pinworm) adults and larvae saw a decrease, while the prevalence of Parascaris equorum (ascarid) remained stable.
- Paranoplocephala mamillana, a type of tapeworm, was a new addition to the list. Meanwhile, Anoplocephala perfoliata remained the most common tapeworm, with the same level of intensity but slightly higher prevalence. Anoplocephala magna was found less frequently than in the earlier period.
- Overall, the diversity of species mostly remained unchanged.
Deductions
- The decrease in prevalence and intensity of most parasites is unexplained, with suggestions that it may be due to the use of broad-spectrum ML anthelmintics, changes in the equine population or the use of different techniques to identify parasites.
Cite This Article
APA
Chapman MR, French DD, Klei TR.
(2003).
Gastrointestinal helminths of ponies in Louisiana: a comparison of species currently prevalent with those present 20 years ago.
J Parasitol, 88(6), 1130-1134.
https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[1130:GHOPIL]2.0.CO;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
- Helminthiasis, Animal / parasitology
- Helminths / classification
- Helminths / growth & development
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
- Louisiana / epidemiology
- Male
- Prevalence
- Sex Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Kuzmina TA, Königová A, Antipov A, Kuzmin Y, Kharchenko V, Syrota Y. Changes in equine strongylid communities after two decades of annual anthelmintic treatments at the farm level. Parasitol Res 2024 Nov 25;123(11):394.
- Hamad MH, Islam SI, Jitsamai W, Chinkangsadarn T, Naraporn D, Ouisuwan S, Taweethavonsawat P. Metabarcoding study to reveal the structural community of strongylid nematodes in domesticated horses in Thailand. BMC Vet Res 2024 Feb 24;20(1):70.
- Matthews JB, Peczak N, Lightbody KL. The Use of Innovative Diagnostics to Inform Sustainable Control of Equine Helminth Infections. Pathogens 2023 Oct 11;12(10).
- Burcáková L, Königová A, Kuzmina TA, Austin CJ, Matthews JB, Lightbody KL, Peczak NA, Syrota Y, Várady M. Equine tapeworm (Anoplocephala spp.) infection: evaluation of saliva- and serum-based antibody detection methods and risk factor analysis in Slovak horse populations. Parasitol Res 2023 Dec;122(12):3037-3052.
- Alemayehu MT, Abebe BK, Haile SM. Investigation of Strongyle Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Horses in and around Alage District, Ethiopia. J Parasitol Res 2022;2022:3935008.
- Johnson ACB, Biddle AS. The Use of Molecular Profiling to Track Equine Reinfection Rates of Cyathostomin Species Following Anthelmintic Administration. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 9;11(5).
- Louro M, Kuzmina TA, Bredtmann CM, Diekmann I, de Carvalho LMM, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Krücken J. Genetic variability, cryptic species and phylogenetic relationship of six cyathostomin species based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequences. Sci Rep 2021 Apr 15;11(1):8245.
- Bellaw JL, Nielsen MK. Meta-analysis of cyathostomin species-specific prevalence and relative abundance in domestic horses from 1975-2020: emphasis on geographical region and specimen collection method. Parasit Vectors 2020 Oct 12;13(1):509.
- Tedla M, Abichu B. Cross-sectional study on gastro-intestinal parasites of equids in South-western Ethiopia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2018 Nov;3(4):e00076.
- Kuzmina TA, Tolliver SC, Lyons ET. Three recently recognized species of cyathostomes (Nematoda: Strongylidae) in equids in Kentucky. Parasitol Res 2011 May;108(5):1179-84.
- Corning S. Equine cyathostomins: a review of biology, clinical significance and therapy. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S1.
- Getachew M, Trawford A, Feseha G, Reid SW. Gastrointestinal parasites of working donkeys of Ethiopia. Trop Anim Health Prod 2010 Jan;42(1):27-33.
- Traversa D, Iorio R, Klei TR, Kharchenko VA, Gawor J, Otranto D, Sparagano OA. New method for simultaneous species-specific identification of equine strongyles (nematoda, strongylida) by reverse line blot hybridization. J Clin Microbiol 2007 Sep;45(9):2937-42.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
