Lungworms (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi): prevalence in live equids in Kentucky.

This research study aimed to investigate the prevalence of lungworm infection in equids (horses, ponies, and asses) in Kentucky by examining fecal samples from 5,437 animals in 91 farms.

Objective and Methodology

• The objective of the study was to understand how widespread lungworm infections (caused by Dictyocaulus arnfieldi) were in live equids in Kentucky.
• The researchers undertook this study over a 15-month period, from January 1983 to April 1984.
• The method used to detect the lungworm infections was the examination of fecal samples from horses, ponies, and asses across 91 farms.

Breakdown of the Animals Examined

• The research team looked at fecal samples from one farm that only had asses, 90 farms that had horses, and a smaller group of farms that had either ponies or asses, or both.
• Of the 90 farms that had horses, lungworm larvae were found in 2% of the samples examined.
• Out of the 19 ponies examined, none was infected with lungworm.
• A significant 54% of the 39 asses examined were found to be infected with lungworm. Infected asses were found on 80% of the farms where they were examined.

Breakdown of the Equid Breeds Examined

• Within the studied samples, 4,329 were Thoroughbreds, 684 were Standardbreds, 78 were American Saddle Horses, and 307 were of miscellaneous or mixed breeds.
• The prevalence of lungworm infection was 2% in Thoroughbreds, 2% in Standardbreds, 0% in American Saddle Horses, and 3% in other breeds or mixed breeds of horses and ponies.

Equid Treatment Categories

• The equids were divided into three categories with respect to previous treatment with ivermectin: A (no treatment), B (treatment), and C (treatment unknown).