Prevalence of helminths in horses in the state of Brandenburg, Germany.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic worms, or helminths, in horses from the Brandenburg state of Germany. A total of 126 horse farms were randomly selected and analyzed, with factors such as age, breed, and sex being considered as potential risk factors for infection.

Research Methodology

• The researchers examined the fecal matter (coproscopy) of 1,407 horses from these 126 different horse farms in Brandenburg, Germany. These farms were selected through randomized stratified sampling.
• The “experimental unit” of the study was the horse farm itself. A farm was defined as infected if at least one horse on the premises tested positive for the presence of helminth eggs.
• The researchers also collected and analyzed data about each horse’s details, such as its age, breed, and sex, as potential risk factors for helminth infection.
• The risk was considered to be if a horse was shedding more strongyle eggs than average.

Research Findings

• Out of all the farms investigated, the prevalences of different types of worms were found to be: Cyathostominae (98.4%), ascarids (16.7%), tapeworms (14.3%), pinworms (8.7%) and strongyloides (4,0%). Only one farm had horses infected with the large strongyle Strongylus vulgaris. None of the horses were found to be infected with liver flukes or lungworms.
• Through analysis, the researchers found that certain categories of horses were more likely to shed higher amounts of strongyle eggs and thus be at greater risk of infection. For instance, yearlings were 4.18 times more likely and fillies were 2.42 times more likely than adult horses. Heavy breeds and wild horses were also found to be at elevated risk of infection, with odds ratios of 3.69 and 4.94 respectively, compared to thoroughbreds. Moreover, mares and stallions shed more strongyle eggs than geldings, indicating a higher risk of infection.

Implications of the Research

• The findings from this research can be used to develop specific treatment recommendations for horses, tailored to the prevalence of particular helminths in the region.
• The data on the risk factors of individual horses will enable the development of targeted treatments for specific animals, which might be more effective and efficient.