Abstract: In Portugal, equine parasitism in pasture animals is characterized by high parasitic burden and high helminthic biodiversity; both factors are potentially pathogenic for their hosts. The decrease in the number of donkeys over the last years in Portugal, their importance in rural lowland and mountain ecosystems and pastures and the scarce information regarding their parasitism led to this research, which aimed to evaluate the parasitological status of a Miranda donkey breed population, a native breed mainly located in the northeast of Portugal. This study provides better knowledge of their gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly strongyles, and the assessment of a targeted selective treatment (TST) as an alternative control approach of their parasitism. A longitudinal observational study was developed during a period of five years in a population of 62 Miranda donkeys. At first, strategic deworming of these animals was performed every semester, but this was progressively replaced by a TST approach according to the levels of Eggs per Gram (EPG). This new deworming strategy was conducted in association with a regular parasitological monitoring of the animals every three months, being dewormed with ivermectin when egg shedding was higher than 500 EPG. Over the study period, a decrease of the annual prevalence rate of infection by gastrointestinal strongyles was observed, from 35.5% to 19.4%, as well as a negative binomial distribution of parasitic strongyles in donkeys submitted to selective anthelminthic control. The prevalence rate of infection was higher in females (39.5%), in individuals under four years (46.7%) and in those presenting a lower body condition (40.8%). The egg output was higher in animals younger than four years (589.3 EPG) than in those older than 10 years (533.6 EPG) ( < 0.05). However, no differences were observed according to sex during the study period. Results from this study allowed to note the influence of swampy pastures and of the weather changes in the epidemiology of strongylosis in Miranda donkeys. Moreover, it was possible to establish the annual epidemiological curve of strongyle egg shedding, with June being the month with the highest EPG, December having the lowest EPG and March and September showing intermediate numbers. Overall, a lower biodiversity of gastrointestinal parasites was observed. sensu lato was the most prevalent genus and was the most observed large strongyle of the Strongylidae family. and sp. were other nematodes with a minor frequency. The higher prevalence of strongyles at the beginning of the study showed a progressive decrease throughout the research period, and also for parasite biodiversity. Therefore, a targeted selective treatment seems to be a rational anthelminthic control approach in Miranda donkey strongyle infection and in other gastrointestinal parasites, since it reduces the antiparasitic treatments, the parasite' prevalence and the EPG level. However, a loss of parasite biodiversity was noted at the end of the study period, as Cyathostominae were the only isolated strongyles. This can be a challenging situation in the long run, taking the ability of these nematodes to adapt easily to any deworming program, meaning that fecal EPG monitoring should be kept as a rule to a rational parasite control program.
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The research scrutinises the parasitic loads in the Miranda donkey breed in Portugal, particularly concerning the presence of strongyles worms, and finds that a targeted selective treatment approach can effectively manage parasitic burdens.
Research Overview
The study was conducted on the Miranda donkey breed, native to the northeastern region of Portugal. The initiating factor for the research was the considerable decrease in donkey numbers in the country, and the integral role they play in rural lowland and mountain ecosystems – while contending with noteworthy parasitic burdens.
The work was designed to investigate the breed’s status with regards to parasitic loads, specifically the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, or strongyles, which can negatively impact the health of these equines.
The research was conducted over a five-year period, encompassing a population of 62 Miranda donkeys.
Data Collection and Treatment Method
Initially, the entire group of donkeys was given prophylactic deworming treatment on a six-monthly (semester) basis, but researchers eventually transitioned this to a targeted selective treatment (TST) approach instead.
The TST methodology was tied to the observation of “Eggs per Gram” (EPG) counts in the animals’ feces. This acted as an indicator of the level of parasitic infestation.
When egg shedding was found to surpass 500 EPG in an individual, it was treated with ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication.
Regular monitoring of the donkeys’ parasitic load was carried out every three months across the span of the study.
Key Findings
Results demonstrated a reduction in the annual prevalence of gastrointestinal strongyles infection from 35.5% to 19.4%.
Other findings showed that female donkeys, those under four years old, and those with a lower body condition had higher infection rates.
The egg output was proportionally higher in animals under the age of four, while older donkeys exhibited a lower EPG count.
June was found to be the month with the highest EPG count, followed by intermediate numbers in March and September, and the lowest EPG count was documented in December.
Some degree of parasite biodiversity was observed at the initiation of the study but saw a reduction over the study term. Strongyles were particularly prevalent but saw a noticeable decrease over the assessment period as per researchers’ records.
Conclusion and Implications
The study suggests that a targeted selective treatment approach can be effective to manage and control equine strongyle infection, along with other gastrointestinal parasites.
This approach also minimises the use of anti-parasitic treatments and contributes to a reduction in both parasite prevalence and EPG levels.
However, the loss of parasite biodiversity observed through this approach was flagged as a potential long-term concern, given the adaptability of certain nematodes to deworming programs. Ongoing monitoring is therefore proposed for effective management.
Cite This Article
APA
Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM.
(2021).
Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal.
Animals (Basel), 11(1), 155.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010155
Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal.
CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
Anastácio, Sofia
Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, Avenida José R. Sousa Fernandes 197 Lordemão, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal.
Centre of Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal.
Nóvoa, Miguel
Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys (AEPGA), Largo da Igreja n.º 48, 5225-011 Miranda do Douro, Portugal.
Paz-Silva, Adolfo
Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120). Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
Madeira de Carvalho, Luís Manuel
CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
Grant Funding
SFRH/BD/65407/2009 / Fundau00e7u00e3o para a Ciu00eancia e a Tecnologia
UIDP/00276/2020 / Fundau00e7u00e3o para a Ciu00eancia e Tecnologia
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.
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