Natural infection with Eimeria leuckarti: prevalence of oocysts in feces of horse foals on several farms in Kentucky during 1986.
Abstract: During 1986, fecal specimens were collected 1 or more times from each of 164 horse foals (158 Thoroughbred and 6 mixed light horse type), ranging in age from 0 to 252 days, on 13 farms in central Kentucky. To detect natural infection with Eimeria leuckarti, feces were examined for oocysts. Oocysts were found in 67 (41%) of the foals on 11 (85%) of the farms. The earliest age at which oocysts were first detected was 15 days (1 foal); the latest age was 123 days (1 foal). The mean age for the first appearance of oocysts in the feces of the 67 foals positive for E leuckarti was approximately 70 days. Age of the oldest foal that passed oocysts was 185 days. The longest oocyst shedding period was about 4 months, although oocyst-positive feces usually were found only sporadically during this period.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 3354972
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article focuses on investigating the prevalence of natural infection with Eimeria leuckarti, a type of parasitic protozoa, in horse foals in Kentucky through the detection of oocysts in their feces. It was found to be prevalent in 41% of the sampled foals, starting to appear when the foals were about 70 days old on average.
Study Design
- The study was carried out in 1986 and involved 164 horse foals from 13 farms in central Kentucky. The majority of these horses were Thoroughbreds, with a small number of mixed light horse types.
- Researchers collected fecal specimens from each horse foal at least once at different ages ranging from 0 to 252 days.
- The main objective was to detect the presence of oocysts (the dormant and resistant form of the parasite) to infer natural infection with Eimeria leuckarti.
Findings
- Researchers detected oocysts in the feces of 41% (67 foals) and were identified in 85% (11) of the farms surveyed.
- The initial appearance of oocysts began at 15 days old at the earliest and 123 days old at the latest.
- The mean age for the first appearance of oocysts in the feces was about 70 days.
- The oldest foal found to pass oocysts was 185 days old.
- The period of oocyst shedding was approximately four months, despite positive feces mainly being detected sporadically within this timeframe.
Implications
- The findings highlight the prevalence of Eimeria leuckarti infection in horse foals in the Kentucky region.
- It also gives an insight into the age range and duration of oocyst shedding, providing valuable data for animal health management and disease prevention protocols.
Cite This Article
APA
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.
(1988).
Natural infection with Eimeria leuckarti: prevalence of oocysts in feces of horse foals on several farms in Kentucky during 1986.
Am J Vet Res, 49(1), 96-98.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0099.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Coccidiosis / epidemiology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- Feces / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Kentucky
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Burk SV, Dangoudoubiyam S, Brewster-Barnes T, Bryant UK, Howe DK, Carter CN, Vanzant ES, Harmon RJ, Kazacos KR, Rossano MG. In vitro culture of Parascaris equorum larvae and initial investigation of parasite excretory-secretory products. Parasitol Res 2014 Nov;113(11):4217-24.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC. Prevalence of patent Strongyloides westeri infections in Thoroughbred foals in 2014. Parasitol Res 2014 Nov;113(11):4163-4.
- Lyons ET, Kuzmina TA, Tolliver SC, Collins SS. Observations on development of natural infection and species composition of small strongyles in young equids in Kentucky. Parasitol Res 2011 Dec;109(6):1529-35.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Ionita M, Collins SS. Evaluation of parasiticidal activity of fenbendazole, ivermectin, oxibendazole, and pyrantel pamoate in horse foals with emphasis on ascarids (Parascaris equorum) in field studies on five farms in Central Kentucky in 2007. Parasitol Res 2008 Jul;103(2):287-91.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Rathgeber RA, Collins SS. Parasite field study in central Kentucky on thoroughbred foals (born in 2004) treated with pyrantel tartrate daily and other parasiticides periodically. Parasitol Res 2007 Feb;100(3):473-8.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Collins SS. Field studies on endoparasites of Thoroughbred foals on seven farms in central Kentucky in 2004. Parasitol Res 2006 Apr;98(5):496-500.
- Lyons ET, Tolliver SC. Prevalence of parasite eggs (Strongyloides westeri, Parascaris equorum, and strongyles) and oocysts (Emeria leuckarti) in the feces of Thoroughbred foals on 14 farms in central Kentucky in 2003. Parasitol Res 2004 Mar;92(5):400-4.
- Dwyer RM. Rotaviral diarrhea. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1993 Aug;9(2):311-9.
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