Abstract: This study aimed to examine the species diversity and structure of the strongylid community in domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia. Also, an analysis of the impact of age, sex, and collection location factors on the strongyid communities was performed. Methods: Twenty-seven horses 1.5-21 years old from two farms in eastern Slovakia with different horse-management conditions were studied. Strongylids were collected after horse treatments with Noromectin (0.2 mg ivermectin); 66,170 specimens were collected and identified. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed following fenbendazole (FBZ) and ivermectin (IVM) treatments. Results: Twenty-four strongylid species were found; horses were infected with 6 to 16 (average = 11.7) species. Six cyathostomin species (Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cyathostomum catinatum, C. pateratum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, C. goldi, C. calicatus) were the most prevalent; C. catinatum was the dominant species in both farms (Berger-Parker index 0.34 and 0.42). The structure of the strongylid community was multimodal with dominant, subdominant, background, and rare species. The Mantel test showed that horse age and sex did not significantly affect the nematode infracommunity composition (p > 0.05), while the impact of the collection location (farm) was significant (p = 0.03). Additionally, C. longibursatus was identified as the species contributing significantly to the observed farm differences. Strong resistance to FBZ was documented on both farms (FECRT was 36.4% and 22.7%); IVM resistance was not observed (FECRT = 100%). Conclusions: This study presents the first report on the strongylids parasitizing domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia and gives basic information for further studies of horse parasites and their control in the region.
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Overview
This research investigated the variety and composition of strongylid parasites found in domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia.
It also studied how horse age, sex, and farm location influence the parasite communities and assessed resistance to common deworming treatments.
Background and Objectives
Strongylids are intestinal parasitic nematodes commonly found in horses, potentially affecting their health.
The study aimed to catalog the species diversity of these parasites in Eastern Slovakia.
It sought to understand how factors like horse age, sex, and farm environment impact parasite populations.
Additionally, the research evaluated the effectiveness of two anthelmintic drugs—fenbendazole (FBZ) and ivermectin (IVM)—by checking for possible drug resistance.
Methods
Sample Size and Population: 27 horses aged from 1.5 to 21 years, located on two different farms with varying management practices.
Parasite Collection: Strongylid nematodes were collected following treatment with Noromectin (containing ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg) to expel parasites.
Parasite Identification: A total of 66,170 nematode specimens were identified to species level.
Assessment of Parasite Diversity: Number and prevalence of each strongylid species were recorded to understand community structure.
Drug Resistance Testing: Faecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRT) were conducted after fenbendazole and ivermectin treatments to measure effectiveness.
Statistical Analysis: The Mantel test assessed if age, sex, or collection location (farm) significantly affected the parasite infracommunity composition.
Key Findings: Species Diversity and Community Structure
Twenty-four different strongylid species were identified across the sampled horses.
Individual horses harbored between 6 and 16 species, with an average of 11.7 species per horse, indicating high parasite diversity.
Six cyathostomin species were most common:
Cylicocyclus nassatus
Cyathostomum catinatum
Cylicocyclus pateratum
Cylicostephanus longibursatus
Cylicostephanus goldi
Cylicostephanus calicatus
Cyathostomum catinatum was the dominant species at both farms, with dominance indices of 0.34 and 0.42, showing it is the most abundant parasite in these locations.
The parasite community structure was described as multimodal:
Dominant species: most abundant and influential parasite species in the community
Subdominant species: moderately abundant species
Background species: species present in low numbers
Rare species: species detected infrequently or in very low numbers
Influence of Host and Environmental Factors
The Mantel test found that horse age and sex did not have significant effects on the composition of strongylid communities (p > 0.05).
The location, i.e., the specific farm, had a statistically significant impact on parasite community structure (p = 0.03), indicating farm management or environmental conditions influence parasite populations.
Among the species, Cylicostephanus longibursatus significantly contributed to the observed differences in parasite communities between the two farms.
Anthelmintic Resistance Findings
Resistance to fenbendazole (FBZ) was strong and evident on both farms:
FECRT values were only 36.4% and 22.7%, far below the expected effectiveness threshold of >90%, indicating poor drug efficacy.
This suggests that parasites have developed or are developing resistance to FBZ.
Ivermectin (IVM) was fully effective:
FECRT was 100%, showing no signs of resistance at the time of the study for ivermectin.
Conclusions and Implications
This study is the first comprehensive report on strongylid species affecting domestic horses in Eastern Slovakia.
The findings provide baseline information useful for veterinarians and researchers focused on equine parasitology and parasite control in the region.
The identified high diversity of strongylid species and demonstrated fenbendazole resistance call for ongoing monitoring and potentially revised deworming strategies.
The significant difference in parasite communities between farms highlights how farm management practices or environmental conditions shape parasite populations.
Maintaining ivermectin efficacy is critical, recommending careful use to delay the emergence of resistance.
Cite This Article
APA
Kuzmina TA, Königová A, Burcáková L, Babjak M, Syrota Y.
(2024).
Strongylids of Domestic Horses in Eastern Slovakia: Species Diversity and Evaluation of Particular Factors Affecting Strongylid Communities.
Acta Parasitol, 69(2), 1284-1294.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-024-00854-7
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia. taniak@izan.kiev.ua.
I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Bogdan Khmelnytsky street, 15, Kyiv, Ukraine. taniak@izan.kiev.ua.
Königová, Alzbeta
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia.
Burcáková, Ludmila
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia.
University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 04181, Kosice, Slovakia.
Babjak, Michal
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia.
Syrota, Yaroslav
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia.
I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Bogdan Khmelnytsky street, 15, Kyiv, Ukraine.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Horses / parasitology
Slovakia / epidemiology
Horse Diseases / parasitology
Horse Diseases / epidemiology
Male
Female
Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
Feces / parasitology
Strongylida Infections / veterinary
Strongylida Infections / parasitology
Strongylida Infections / epidemiology
Ivermectin
Biodiversity
Strongyloidea / classification
Strongyloidea / isolation & purification
Strongyloidea / drug effects
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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