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Veterinary parasitology1987; 23(3-4); 273-284; doi: 10.1016/0304-4017(87)90013-6

Prevalence of internal parasites in horses in critical tests of activity of parasiticides over a 28-year period (1956-1983) in Kentucky.

Abstract: The prevalence and number of naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasites were compiled for horses used in critical tests of activity of parasiticides over a 28-year period (1956-1983). Data are presented as follows: n = number of horses examined; % = mean prevalence; number in parentheses after % = aggregate mean number of parasites in infected horses. Parasites found were: bots (n = 513) - Gasterophilus intestinalis, 2nd instar, 61%(58); 3rd instar, 94%(168); G. nasalis, 2nd instar, 36%(28); 3rd instar, 81%(51); stomach worms (n = 200) - Habronema muscae, 65%(179); Draschia megastoma, 29%(95); Trichostrongylus axei, 46%(3000); ascarids (n = 513) - Parascaris equorum, mature, 50%(25); immature, 23%(33); tapeworms (n = 513), Anoplocephala perfoliata, 17%(15); A. magna, 14%(10); large strongyles (n = 487), Strongylus vulgaris, 84%(80); S. edentatus, 79%(101); S. equinus, 6%(14); small strongyles (n = 210), 100%(142,000); pinworms (Oxyuris equi), immature (n = 210), 78%(9000); mature (n = 506), 40%(62); Probstmayria vivipara (n = 210), 12%(10(7]; S. vulgaris in cranial mesenteric artery (n = 472), 89%(57). The majority of the horses examined were mixed lighthorse type but several Thoroughbreds were included. Ages varied from about 4 months to 20 years old, with most being approximately 1-3 years old. They probably had either no or infrequent previous treatment with parasiticides. Most of the horses were selected for presence of certain internal parasites, usually large strongyles, prior to usage in the critical tests.
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Publication Date: 1987-02-01 PubMed ID: 3564356DOI: 10.1016/0304-4017(87)90013-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 was carried out over a 28 year period (1956-1983), where researchers examined horses for the presence and quantity of various gastrointestinal parasites. Test participants included various breeds of horses of different ages, most of whom had received little or no previous treatment for parasites. Horses were typically selected for their known infestation with certain parasites, commonly large strongyles, before being used in critical tests of parasiticide efficacy.

Selection and Examination of the Horses

  • The horses examined in this research vary in age from around 4 months to 20 years. Primarily, they were about 1-3 years old.
  • Most of these horses were of mixed lighthorse type although several Thoroughbreds were also included in the study.
  • Previous treatment regarding parasitic infections in these horses was either absent or rare.
  • Researchers typically chose horses that were known to have certain internal parasites, usually large strongyles, for their critical assessment tests.

Findings & Data

  • The researchers carried out screenings of parasites, recording the percentage prevalence of each parasite and the average number of parasites found in infected horses. For each parasite, this is denoted by % (aggregate mean number of parasites in infected horses). The “n” denotes the total number of horses examined.
  • The researchers found a range of parasites including different species of bots, stomach worms, ascarids, tapeworms, large and small strongyles, pinworms and other parasites.
  • High presence was observed for parasites like Gasterophilus intestinalis (both 2nd and 3rd instar), Strongylus vulgaris, and small strongyles. All the examined horses (n = 210) had small strongyles.
  • Some parasites like S. equinus were found in much lower prevalence.

This study provides an extensive analysis of horse parasitology over an extended period. It can provide robust background information for understanding the efficacy of parasiticides and may inform new strategies for parasite control in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Tolliver SC, Lyons ET, Drudge JH. (1987). Prevalence of internal parasites in horses in critical tests of activity of parasiticides over a 28-year period (1956-1983) in Kentucky. Vet Parasitol, 23(3-4), 273-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(87)90013-6

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 273-284

Researcher Affiliations

Tolliver, S C
    Lyons, E T
      Drudge, J H

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Helminthiasis / drug therapy
        • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
        • Helminthiasis, Animal
        • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horses / parasitology
        • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / drug therapy
        • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
        • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary
        • Kentucky
        • Longitudinal Studies
        • Myiasis / epidemiology
        • Myiasis / veterinary
        • Stomach Diseases / drug therapy
        • Stomach Diseases / epidemiology
        • Stomach Diseases / veterinary
        • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
        • Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 13 times.
        1. Ahn S, Redman EM, Gavriliuc S, Bellaw J, Gilleard JS, McLoughlin PD, Poissant J. Mixed strongyle parasite infections vary across host age and space in a population of feral horses. Parasitology 2024 Oct;151(12):1299-1316.
          doi: 10.1017/S0031182024001185pubmed: 39663810google scholar: lookup
        2. Domshy KA, Whitehead AE, Poissant J, Goldsmith DA, Legge C, Knight CG, Zachar EK, Loch SS, Davies JL. A retrospective study of the prevalence in equine postmortems of cranial mesenteric arteritis caused by Strongylus vulgaris in Alberta (2010 to 2022). Can Vet J 2024 Jun;65(6):587-593.
          pubmed: 38827589
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          doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100046pubmed: 35284858google scholar: lookup
        5. Tydén E, Enemark HL, Franko MA, Höglund J, Osterman-Lind E. Prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris in horses after ten years of prescription usage of anthelmintics in Sweden. Vet Parasitol X 2019 Nov;2:100013.
          doi: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2019.100013pubmed: 32904767google scholar: lookup
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          doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0918-ypubmed: 28077153google scholar: lookup
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        8. Ismail AA, Ahmed NK, Bashar AE, Seri HI, El Tigani-Asil el TA, Abakar AD. A Survey of Seasonal Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Donkeys from a Semiarid Sub-Saharan Region, Sudan. J Pathog 2016;2016:4602751.
          doi: 10.1155/2016/4602751pubmed: 27298739google scholar: lookup
        9. Schneider S, Pfister K, Becher AM, Scheuerle MC. Strongyle infections and parasitic control strategies in German horses - a risk assessment. BMC Vet Res 2014 Nov 12;10:262.
          doi: 10.1186/s12917-014-0262-zpubmed: 25387542google scholar: lookup
        10. Hinney B, Wirtherle NC, Kyule M, Miethe N, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. Prevalence of helminths in horses in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Parasitol Res 2011 May;108(5):1083-91.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-011-2362-zpubmed: 21472400google scholar: lookup
        11. Nielsen MK. Restrictions of anthelmintic usage: perspectives and potential consequences. Parasit Vectors 2009 Sep 25;2 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S7.
          doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-S2-S7pubmed: 19778468google scholar: lookup
        12. Naem S. The comparative morphology of three equine habronematid nematodes: SEM observations. Parasitol Res 2007 Oct;101(5):1303-10.
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        13. Naem S. Equine stomach worm, Drashia megastoma (Spirurida: Habronematidae): first SEM report. Parasitol Res 2007 Sep;101(4):913-8.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-007-0558-zpubmed: 17487510google scholar: lookup
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