Gastrointestinal parasite occurrence in Slovak horses and factors affecting Strongylidae and Parascaris spp. egg shedding.

Abstract: Strongylids and parascarids are the most widespread equine parasites worldwide; however, up-to-date data from Slovakia remain limited. This work bridges that gap by examining the prevalence and level of gastrointestinal helminth infections in Slovak horses. In the study, 392 fecal samples from horses on 24 farms were analyzed using the McMaster method with a sensitivity of 50 eggs per gram (EPG) for detecting nematode eggs and a double-centrifugation/combined sedimentation-flotation protocol for detecting Anoplocephala spp. eggs. Information on the age and breed of horses, management conditions, and parasite control methods was collected to assess the impact of these factors on the level of parasite infection. Overall, 257 fecal samples were found to be positive for strongylids (prevalence = 65.6 %), with EPG counts ranging from 50 to 2800 EPG. The proportion of horses responsible for 80 % of the strongylid egg output was 29.8 %. Parascaris spp. and Anoplocephala spp. eggs were detected in 4.5 % and 0.3 % of horses, respectively; no eggs of other helminths were found. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that age and stocking density were the meaningful predictors of strongylid infection in horses in eastern Slovakia. In contrast, Parascaris spp. infection was meaningfully influenced solely by horse age.