Parasitic profile of traction equids in the semi-arid climate of Paraíba State, Northeastern, Brazil.

The research article discusses a study carried out to understand the prevalence of parasites among equids (i.e., horses, donkeys, and mules) used for work in the semi-arid climate of Paraíba State in northeastern Brazil.

Study Methodology

• The researchers studied 96 equids of no specific breed that were used for traction work. These included males, females, donkeys, mules, and horses, all older than 24 months.
• Fecal material and blood were collected from these animals. The fecal material underwent parasitological examination to detect the presence of parasites, while the blood samples were used to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), a measure of the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen.
• The collected samples were sent for analysis to the Veterinary Parasitology Laboratory at the Veterinary Hospital in the IFPB Sousa-PB campus.
• Epidemiological questionnaires were given to the owners of the equids to gather information about previous deworming treatments.

Research Findings

• The study revealed that a large proportion (83.3%) of the equids were infected with gastrointestinal parasites. The most prevalent parasite was the Strongylidae (83.3%), followed by Giardia sp. (5.3%), and Eimeria sp. (2.1%).
• The mean eggs per gram (EPG) value of the fecal samples was 1143, indicating a high level of parasitic infection.
• Among the detected larvae, 78.9% belonged to “small strongyles”.
• No external parasites (ectoparasites) were observed in the tested animals.
• According to owner responses, more than two-thirds (69.8%) of the tested equids had never undergone deworming, while the remaining 31.2% had been dewormed only once.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites is high among working equids in the municipality of Sousa-PB in Paraíba State, Brazil. The majority of these animals have not been adequately dewormed, underlining a crucial area of animal health needing attention.