Gastrointestinal parasitic worms in equines in the Paraíba Valley, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

This research was undertaken to understand the level of infestation and types of parasitic worms found in horses and mules in the Paraíba Valley, Brazil. Over 12 years, 20 animals were studied and it was found that all of them had roundworms and 85% had tapeworms.

Methods

• The study was conducted over a long period of 12 years, from 1988 to 2000.
• 20 individual equines, which included 16 horses and 4 mules, were selected at random for the research.
• The animals were sourced from 10 different municipalities in the Paraíba Valley, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
• A necropsy (an autopsy for animals) was conducted on each animal for the collection of gastrointestinal worms.
• Individual samples of 10% of the contents of each animal’s intestines were taken for examination.

Findings

• The number of parasites found in each animal ranged from 155 to 1249 worms.
• Nearly 85% of the animals had tapeworms (Cestoidea), while 100% of the animals had roundworms (Nematoda).
• The tapeworms found were all of the same species, namely Anoplocephala perfoliata.
• When it came to roundworms, different species were found with varied prevalence.
• The roundworm Cyathostomineae was found in all animals, while Oxyuris equi was found in 90%, Strongylus vulgaris in 70%, S. edentatus in 45%, and so on, with the least prevalent being Parascaris equorum, Probstimayria vivipara, Habronema muscae, and Trichostrongylus axei at 5% each.
• No specimens of another possible type of parasites, flukes (Trematoda), were found in any of the animals studied.

Significance

• The findings provide Deep insights into the gastrointestinal health of the equines in this area, and the extent of parasitic infestations they are subject to.
• This study could act as a platform for further research to devise effective deworming strategies and monitor the health of equines in the region.
• The data collected also acts as valuable input for veterinarians who are caring for horses and mules in the region.