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BioMed research international2018; 2018; 4267683; doi: 10.1155/2018/4267683

Implementation of Biological Control to the Integrated Control of Strongyle Infection among Wild Captive Equids in a Zoological Park.

Abstract: The integrated control of strongyles was assayed for a period of three years in wild equids (zebras, European donkeys, and African wild asses) captive in a zoo and infected by strongyles. During three years control of parasites consisted of deworming with ivermectin + praziquantel; equids also received every two days commercial nutritional pellets containing a blend of 10 - 10 spores of the fungi + per kg meal. Coprological analyses were done monthly to establish the counts of eggs of strongyles per gram of feces (EPG). The reductions in the fecal egg counts (FECR) and in the positive horses (PHR) were calculated fifteen days after deworming; the egg reappearance period (ERP) and the time elapsed from the previous deworming (TPD) were also recorded. Four anthelmintic treatments were administered during the assay, three times throughout the first 2 yrs, and another treatment during the last one. FECR values of 96-100% and 75-100% for the PHR were recorded. The ERP oscillated between eight and twenty-eight weeks, and the TPD ranged from four to eighteen months, increasing to the end of the trial. No side effects were observed in any of the equids. It is concluded that integrated control of strongyles among equids captive in a zoo can be developed by anthelmintic deworming together with the administration of pellets manufactured with spores of parasiticide fungi every two days.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-07 PubMed ID: 29984232PubMed Central: PMC6011151DOI: 10.1155/2018/4267683Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study details a three-year trial for controlling strongyle parasitic infections among captive zebras, European donkeys, and African wild asses at a zoo. The control methods used were a combination of deworming with specific medications and the introduction of a parasiticide fungus through the animals’ diet. The results of the trial were positive, showing a significant reduction in parasite levels with no observed side effects, indicating that this integrated control approach could be an effective strategy for helminth control in captive equids.

Research Approach

  • The researchers combined deworming medications ivermectin and praziquantel with a dietary addition of nutritional pellets containing parasiticide fungi spores.
  • The treatment was carefully tracked and documented over three years.
  • The level of parasitic infection was measured monthly by counting strongyle eggs in feces samples, with a calculation known as the egg reappearance period (ERP) used to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.

Key Findings

  • The integrated treatment achieved highly effective results, with fecal egg counts (FECR) dropping by 96-100%, indicating a drastic reduction in the animals’ parasitic infection.
  • The proportion of positive horses (PHR) – that is, animals still showing signs of infection – also reduced significantly, by 75-100%.
  • The egg reappearance period (ERP), which measures the presence of parasitic eggs post-treatment, oscillated between eight and twenty-eight weeks. This suggests a delay in parasite re-colonization.
  • The time span between deworming treatments – also referred to as time elapsed from the previous deworming (TPD) – extended up to eighteen months. This increased period before re-infestation indicates the effectiveness of the integrated approach.
  • Importantly, the study found no negative side effects in any of the animals treated with the combined deworming and fungal diet approach.

Concluding Observations

  • The research concludes that an integrated approach to controlling strongyles – combining regular deworming with a diet of pellets containing parasiticide fungi – can effectively manage these parasites in captive wild equids.
  • Suggestions for further research could include testing this approach on other species or in different settings, to examine whether similar results are achieved.

Cite This Article

APA
Palomero AM, Hernández JA, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Balán FA, Silva MI, Paz-Silva A, Sánchez-Andrade R, Vázquez MSA. (2018). Implementation of Biological Control to the Integrated Control of Strongyle Infection among Wild Captive Equids in a Zoological Park. Biomed Res Int, 2018, 4267683. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4267683

Publication

BioMed research international
ISSN: 2314-6141
NlmUniqueID: 101600173
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2018
Pages: 4267683
PII: 4267683

Researcher Affiliations

Palomero, A M
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Hernández, J A
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Cazapal-Monteiro, C F
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Balán, Fabián Arroyo
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Silva, M I
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Paz-Silva, Adolfo
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Sánchez-Andrade, R
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.
Vázquez, María Sol Arias
  • Control of Parasites Group (COPAR, GI-2120), Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002-Lugo, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Biological Control Agents
  • Duddingtonia
  • Equidae
  • Feces
  • Horses
  • Ivermectin / therapeutic use
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Spain
  • Strongyle Infections, Equine / prevention & control

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Tombak KJ, Hansen CB, Kinsella JM, Pansu J, Pringle RM, Rubenstein DI. The gastrointestinal nematodes of plains and Grevy's zebras: Phylogenetic relationships and host specificity. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021 Dec;16:228-235.
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