Analyze Diet
Acta parasitologica2021; 66(4); 1095-1101; doi: 10.1007/s11686-021-00391-7

Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Przewalski Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii).

Abstract: Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is a subspecies of Equus ferus classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism has been studied in different populations, in situ and ex situ, during the last decades. We aimed to summarize the information available on the subject. Methods: In this review, we collected information from distinct published literature, interpreted it, compared it and related the Przewalski's horse biology and ecology with different findings. Results: Many similarities can be found between the Przewalski's horse populations and the domestic horses regarding their gastrointestinal parasite community. However, not all the GI parasites described in the domestic horse have been reported in Przewalski's horse's surveys. The most prevalent parasites found in Przewalski's horses belong to the Strongylidae family, namely the Cyathostominae. Conclusions: More continuous monitoring studies should be carried on in different in situ and ex situ locations to consistently support the one-off surveys. It might be necessary to better correlate the parasitological findings of this subspecies with other animals that share the same habitat and ecosystem, for instance, intermediate and reservoir hosts, from different animal taxonomic groups.
Publication Date: 2021-04-22 PubMed ID: 33886041DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00391-7Google 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.
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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 research article is about the study of gastrointestinal parasites in Przewalski’s horses, an endangered subspecies, by analyzing existing literature and comparing their findings to those about domestic horses.

Study Objective

The primary aim of the study was to consolidate the available information on gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in the endangered Przewalski’s horse, comparing their parasite communities to those found in domestic horses.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published literature on the subject, interpreting and comparing their findings.
  • They correlated the biological and ecological attributes of the Przewalski’s horse with various findings, drawing connections between the two.

Results

  • The study found that there were many similarities between the GI parasite communities in Przewalski’s horses and domestic horses. However, not all parasites found in domestic horses were reported in surveys of Przewalski’s horses.
  • The most common parasites found in Przewalski’s horses belong to the Strongylidae family, and specifically the Cyathostominae subfamily.

Conclusions

  • The research suggested a need for more ongoing monitoring studies in various in situ (in the natural environment) and ex situ (outside the natural environment) locations, to add context and consistent support to the one-off surveys.
  • There is also a potential need to better correlate the parasitological findings in this horse subspecies with others sharing the same habitat and ecosystem, including intermediate and reservoir hosts from different animal taxonomic groups.

Cite This Article

APA
Jota Baptista C, Sós E, Madeira de Carvalho L. (2021). Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Przewalski Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Acta Parasitol, 66(4), 1095-1101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00391-7

Publication

ISSN: 1896-1851
NlmUniqueID: 9301947
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 4
Pages: 1095-1101

Researcher Affiliations

Jota Baptista, Catarina
  • CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal. catabap@hotmail.com.
Sós, Endre
  • Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Állatkerti krt. 6-12, 1146, Budapest, Hungary.
Madeira de Carvalho, Luís
  • CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Ecosystem
  • Equidae
  • Horses
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary

References

This article includes 41 references
  1. Gaunitz C, Fages A, Hanghøj K, Albrechtsen A, Khan N, Schubert M, Seguin-Orlando A, Owens IJ, Felkel S, Bignon-Lau O, de Damgaard PB, Mittnik A, Mohaseb AF, Davoudi H, Alquraishi S, Alfarhan AH, Al-Rasheid KAS, Crubézy E, Benecke N, Olsen S, Brown D, Anthony D, Massy K, Pitulko V, Kasparov A, Brem G, Hofreiter M, Mukhtarova G, Baimukhanov N, Lõugas L, Onar V, Stockhammer PW, Krause J, Boldgiv B, Undrakhbold S, Erdenebaatar D, Lepetz S, Mashkour M, Ludwig A, Wallner B, Merz V, Merz I, Zaibert V, Willerslev E, Librado P, Outram AK, Orlando L. Ancient genomes revisit the ancestry of domestic and Przewalski’s horses. Science 360:111–114.
    doi: 10.1126/science.aao3297google scholar: lookup
  2. King SRB, Boyd L, Zimmermann W, Kendall BE. Equus ferus—Przewalski’s horse. IUCN red list threat species 8235.
  3. Wakefield S, Knowles J, Zimmermann W, van Dierendonck M. Status and action plan for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Equids Zebras, Asses, Horses Status Surv Conserv Action Plan pp 82–92.
  4. Poliakov IS. Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii n. sp.). Isvestia Russki Geographiceski obsch-va. St. Petersburg 17:1–20.
  5. Walzer C, Kaczensky P, Ganbataar O, Enksaikhan N, Stauffer C. Coming home: the return of the Przewalski’s horse to the Mongolian Gobi. World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) pp 123–128.
  6. Walzer C, Kaczensky P, Zimmermann W, Stauffer C. Przewalski’s horse reintroduction to Mongolia: status and outlook. WAZA Mag 13:3–6.
  7. Bakirova RT, Zharkikh TL. Programme on establishing a semi-free population of Przewalski’s horse in orenburg state nature reserve: the first successful project on the reintroduction of the species in Russia. Nat Conserv Res 4:57–64.
    doi: 10.24189/ncr.2019.025google scholar: lookup
  8. Liu G, Shafer ABA, Zimmermann W, Hu D, Wang W, Chu H, Cao J, Zhao C. Evaluating the reintroduction project of Przewalski’s horse in China using genetic and pedigree data. Biol Conserv 171:288–298.
  9. Kuzmina TA, Zvegintsova NS, Zharkikh TL. gastrointestinal parasite community in a new population of the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) in the Orenburg State Reserve, Russia. Vestn Zool 51:243–250.
    doi: 10.1515/vzoo-2017-0030google scholar: lookup
  10. Slivinska K, Dvojnos G, Kopij G. Helminth fauna of sympatric Przewalski’s Equus przewalskii Poljakov, 1881 and domestic horses E. caballus L. in the Chernobyl exclusion zone Ukraine. Helminthologia 43:27–32.
    doi: 10.2478/s11687-006-0006-0google scholar: lookup
  11. Zvegintsova NS, Zharkikh TL, Kuzmina T. Parasites of Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in askania nova biosphere reserve (Ukraine) and Orenburg state nature reserve (Russia). Nat Conserv Res 4:83–88.
    doi: 10.24189/ncr.2019.030google scholar: lookup
  12. Kuzmina T, Zvegintsova N, Zharkikh T. Strongylid community structure of the Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) from the biosphere reserve “askania-Nova”, Ukraine. Vestn Zool 43:5–11.
    doi: 10.2478/v10058-009-0010-1google scholar: lookup
  13. Painer J, Kaczensky P, Ganbaatar O, Huber K, Walzer C. Comparative parasitological examination on sympatric equids in the Great Gobi “B” strictly protected area, Mongolia. Eur J Wildl Res 57:225–232.
    doi: 10.1007/s10344-010-0415-8google scholar: lookup
  14. Jota Baptista C. Gastrointestinal parasites in Przewaslki’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii), in Pentezug Wild horse reserve, Hortobagy National Park. Universidade de Lisboa Hungary.
  15. Baptista CJ, Sós E, Kerekes V, Szabados T, Madeira de Caravalho L. Gastrointestinal parasites in Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) at Hortobágy National Park, Hungary—preliminary results. Zoo and Wildlife Health vonference Germany.
  16. Santos DW, Madeira de Carvalho LM, Molento MB. Identification of third stage larval types of cyathostomins of equids: An improved perspective.. Vet Parasitol 2018 Aug 30;260:49-52.
    doi: 10.1016/J.VETPAR.2018.08.007pubmed: 30197013google scholar: lookup
  17. Madeira De Carvalho LM. Estrongilidose dos equídeos biologia, patologia, epidemiologia E controlo. Memoriam Prof. ignacio navarrete López-Cózar 1st edn. Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Cáceres, España.
  18. Elias F, Sterregaard F, Baumgartner R, Walzer C, Slotta-Bachmayr L, Ganbataar O, Bajalagmaa N, Isenbügel E, Deplazes P. Parasitologic examinations in reintroduced Przewalski horses (Equus c. przewalskii) compared to mongolian domestic horses (E. caballus) and Dschiggetais (E. h. hemionus) in the Dzungarian Gobi, Mongolia. Pro. EAZWV & EWDA, Heildelberg, Germany pp 233–244.
  19. Zvegintsova N, Zharkikh T, Yasynetska N. Dynamics of infection with strongylidae of the Przewalski horse (Equus przewalskii) population in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Vestn Zool 42:e73–e78.
    doi: 10.2478/v10058-008-0011-5google scholar: lookup
  20. Bowman D. Georgis’ Parasitology for veterinarians. Elsevier Saunders Missouri, USA, 344–347.
  21. International Takhi Group. Animals of der Great Gobi B. https://www.takhi.org/en/habitat/animals_en.php . Accessed 29 Jan 2021.
  22. Kates KC. Ecological aspects of helminth transmission in domesticated animals. Am Zool 5:95–130.
    doi: 10.1093/icb/5.1.95google scholar: lookup
  23. Taylor M, Coop R, Wall R. Veterinary helminthology. Wiley Blackwell .
  24. Matthews JB. An update on cyathostomins: anthelmintic resistance and worm control. Equine Vet Educ 20:552–560.
    doi: 10.2746/095777308X363912google scholar: lookup
  25. Kuzmina T, Zvegintsova NS, Yasynetska NI, Kharchenko VA. Anthelmintic resistance in strongylids (Nematoda: Strongylidae) parasitizing wild and domestic equids in the Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve. Ukraine. Annals of Parasitology p 156.
  26. Nielsen MK, Reinemeyer CR. Handbook of equine parasite control, 2nd edn. Wiley Blackwell USA.
    doi: 10.1002/9781119382829google scholar: lookup
  27. Duncan JL. Immunity to ‘Strongylus vulgaris’ in the horse. Equine Vet J 7:192–197.
  28. Liu SH, Hu DF, Li K. Parasites observed in the proximal alimentary tract of a Przewalski’s horse in China. Equine Vet Educ 30:20–23.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12593google scholar: lookup
  29. Boyd L, Houpt K. Przewalski’s horse: the history and biology of an endangered species. State University of New York Press, Albany 39–60.
  30. Duncan P. The Impact of Grazing on the Plants and Animals of the Camargue. Horses and Grasses. Ecological Studies (Analysis and Synthesis) Springer, New York 87:173–194.
  31. Moore SL, Wilson K. Parasites as a viability cost of sexual selection in natural populations of mammals. Science 297:2015–2018.
    doi: 10.1126/science.1074196google scholar: lookup
  32. Habig B. Social status, immune response and parasitism in males: a meta-analysis. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci .
    doi: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0109google scholar: lookup
  33. Boyd LE. Time budgets of adult Przewalski Horses: effects of sex, reproductive status and enclosure. Appl Anim Behav Sci 21:19–39.
  34. Connan RM. Effect of lactation on the immune response to gastrointestinal nematodes.. Vet Rec 1976 Dec 11;99(24):476-7.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.99.24.476pubmed: 1034996google scholar: lookup
  35. Debeffe L, McLoughlin PD, Medill SA, Stewart K, Andres D, Shury T, Wagner B, Jenkins E, Gilleard JS, Poissant J. Negative covariance between parasite load and body condition in a population of feral horses.. Parasitology 2016 Jul;143(8):983-97.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182016000408pubmed: 27046508google scholar: lookup
  36. Kuzmina TA, Dzeverin I, Kharchenko VA. Strongylids in domestic horses: Influence of horse age, breed and deworming programs on the strongyle parasite community.. Vet Parasitol 2016 Aug 30;227:56-63.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.07.024pubmed: 27523938google scholar: lookup
  37. Slivinska K, Kharchenko V, Wróblewski Z, Gawor J, Kuzmina T. Parasitological survey of Polish primitive horses (Equus caballus gmelini Ant.): influence of age, sex and management strategies on the parasite community. Helminthol 53:233–242.
    doi: 10.1515/helmin-2016-0023google scholar: lookup
  38. Van Dierendonck MC, Wallis De Vries MF. Ungulate reintroductions: experiences with the takhi or Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia. Conserv Biol 10:728–740.
  39. Slivinska K, Klich D, Yasynetska N, Zygowska M. The effects of seasonality and group size on fecal egg counts in wild Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii, Poljakov, 1881) in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine during 2014–2018. Helminthol 57:314–321.
    doi: 10.2478/helm-2020-0042google scholar: lookup
  40. Dobson AP. The population dynamics of competition between parasites.. Parasitology 1985 Oct;91 ( Pt 2):317-47.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182000057401pubmed: 4069753google scholar: lookup
  41. 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 7:1–8.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.598371google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Gao Y, Zhang Z, Wang C, Zhao K. The Mitochondrial Genome of Cylicocyclus elongatus (Strongylida: Strongylidae) and Its Comparative Analysis with Other Cylicocyclus Species.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 17;12(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12121571pubmed: 35739907google scholar: lookup