Seasonal transmission of gastrointestinal parasites of equids in southern Louisiana.
Abstract: Parasite-naive pony foals were used as sentinels to monitor transmission of gastrointestinal parasites of equids in Louisiana during 4 seasons of the year. Two annual periods were studied, 1988-1989 and 1992-1993. Two or 3 foals each season were turned out to graze a contaminated pasture along with resident parasitized mares and their foals. After a grazing period of 8 wk, sentinel ponies were held in a parasite-free box stall for a period of 6 wk to allow parasites to develop, thus enhancing the evaluation of hypobiotic stages. Following this holding period, necropsies were performed for complete parasite recoveries. Data show that transmission of large and small strongyles occurs during all seasons in southern Louisiana, with highest levels of transmission occurring in the winter and only minimal transmission taking place in the summer. Numbers of mucosal cyathostomes, as well as total cyathostome numbers, were highest in the winter, and luminal cyathostome numbers were highest in the spring. Transmission of Anoplocephala perfoliata and Parascaris equorum occurred during all seasons of the year, although numbers of P. equorum were reduced in spring 1989 and 1993. Gasterophilus intestinalis instars were recovered from fall and winter sentinels only. Oxyuris equi L4 were found all seasons 1 yr, but only during the fall and winter of the final year.
Publication Date: 2002-01-10 PubMed ID: 11780824DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[1371:STOGPO]2.0.CO;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the seasonal transmission of gastrointestinal parasites in horses in southern Louisiana, using parasite-naive pony foals as monitors. The study took place over two annual periods and observed that transmission of various parasites occurs during all seasons, with peak transmission in winter and minimum in summer.
Methodology
- The research utilized parasite-naive pony foals as sentinels to monitor the transmission of gastrointestinal parasites in horses over four seasons in two distinct years – 1988-1989 and 1992-1993.
- In each season, two or three foals were released to graze in a contaminated pasture along with already parasitized mares and their young.
- After eight weeks of grazing, these sentinel ponies were moved into a parasite-free stall for six weeks. This shift was done to allow any ingested parasites to mature, significantly improving the evaluation of hypobiotic or dormant stages of the parasites.
- Upon completion of the holding period, necropsies were performed on the sentinel ponies to recover the parasites for further examination and count.
Findings
- Regardless of the season, transmission of large and small strongyles, a type of parasitic worms, was observed. However, the highest rates of transmission were noted during the winter months. Conversely, minimal transmission occurred during the summer.
- Cyathostomes, another group of parasites, showed the highest numbers in the winter with their highest presence in the mucosa. Luminal cyathostomes, a subset of parasites dwelling within the luminal cavity of the large intestine, showed their highest numbers in the spring.
- Transmission of Anoplocephala perfoliata and Parascaris equorum, types of tapeworms and roundworms respectively, occurred regardless of the season. However, less Parascaris equorum was observed in the springs of 1989 and 1993.
- Gasterophilus intestinalis instars, or horse botfly larvae, were found in the sentinel ponies only during the fall and winter seasons.
- Oxyuris equi L4, pinworm larvae, were identified in all seasons one year but restricted to the fall and winter seasons in the following year.
Cite This Article
APA
Chapman MR, French DD, Klei TR.
(2002).
Seasonal transmission of gastrointestinal parasites of equids in southern Louisiana.
J Parasitol, 87(6), 1371-1378.
https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[1371:STOGPO]2.0.CO;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Louisiana Agricultural Research Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Horses
- Intestinal Mucosa / parasitology
- Louisiana / epidemiology
- Male
- Parasite Egg Count
- Seasons
- Sentinel Surveillance
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / transmission
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