FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Strongylus vulgaris (Looss, 1900) in horses in Italy: is it ...
Veterinary parasitology2011; 184(2-4); 161-167; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.016

Strongylus vulgaris (Looss, 1900) in horses in Italy: is it still a problem?

Abstract: A post-mortem survey was carried out on 46 Sardinian horses to evaluate the presence of Strongylus vulgaris and associated pathology. Horses were from local farms and had been treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics at least 3 times a year. Examination of the cranial mesenteric arterial system (CMAS) showed parasite-induced lesions in all horses. S. vulgaris larvae were found in 39% of examined arteries, while their detection rate in coprocultures was 4%. Histology, carried out on 26 horses, showed mainly chronic and chronic-active lesions. Histometry showed a significant increase in thickness of the arterial wall, in particular of the intima tunic and adventitia tunic of the ileocolic artery and its colic branch. MCV, MCHC and alpha2, beta and gamma globulins were increased in horses with S. vulgaris larvae in the arteries, while the albumin/globulin ratio was decreased. Horses that were positive on faecal examination showed decreased values for RBC, PCV and the albumin/globulin ratio. Although several studies have shown a dramatic decrease of S. vulgaris infection worldwide, our data show that this parasite continues to exert its pathogenic role, even when its detection rate is quite low within the strongyle population infecting horses.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2011-09-16 PubMed ID: 21962966DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.016Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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.

The research investigates the presence of Strongylus vulgaris (a type of worm) and related pathologies in horses in Sardinia, Italy, and finds that despite treatments, the parasite still poses a risk.

Methodology

  • The research conducted a post-mortem study on 46 Sardinian horses to evaluate the existence of Strongylus vulgaris and any associated diseases.
  • The horses were locally sourced and had been treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics (anti-parasitic drugs) at least three times a year.
  • The researchers examined the cranial mesenteric arterial system (CMAS) of the horses, which showed parasite-induced damage in all horses.

Findings

  • S. vulgaris larvae were discovered in 39% of the studied arteries, but their detection rate was 4% in coprocultures (a type of feces culture used to diagnose parasites).
  • On histology (study of tissue structures), performed on 26 horses, predominantly chronic and chronic-active lesions were observed.
  • There was a significant thickening of the arterial wall, particularly of the ileocolic artery (part of the intestine) and its colic branch.
  • Increased levels of MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration), and alpha2, beta, and gamma globulins were noted in horses with S. vulgaris larvae in the arteries, while the albumin/globulin ratio was decreased.
  • For horses that tested positive in the fecal examination, there were reduced values of RBC (Red Blood Cells), PCV (Packed Cell Volume), and the albumin/globulin ratio.

Implication

  • Despite a global decrease in S. vulgaris infections according to numerous studies, these findings show that the parasite continues to exercise a pathogenic role in horses.
  • This suggests that the parasite is still a significant threat, even though its detection rate within the horse’s strongyle population (type of worm) is relatively low.

Cite This Article

APA
Pilo C, Altea A, Pirino S, Nicolussi P, Varcasia A, Genchi M, Scala A. (2011). Strongylus vulgaris (Looss, 1900) in horses in Italy: is it still a problem? Vet Parasitol, 184(2-4), 161-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.016

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 184
Issue: 2-4
Pages: 161-167

Researcher Affiliations

Pilo, C
  • Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Sezione di Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2-07100 Sassari, Italy.
Altea, A
    Pirino, S
      Nicolussi, P
        Varcasia, A
          Genchi, M
            Scala, A

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
              • Female
              • Horses
              • Italy / epidemiology
              • Male
              • Mesenteric Arteries / parasitology
              • Mesenteric Arteries / pathology
              • Population Surveillance
              • Prevalence
              • Strongyle Infections, Equine / drug therapy
              • Strongyle Infections, Equine / epidemiology
              • Strongyle Infections, Equine / pathology
              • Strongylus / physiology

              Citations

              This article has been cited 12 times.
              1. Elghryani N, McOwan T, Mincher C, Duggan V, de Waal T. Estimating the Prevalence and Factors Affecting the Shedding of Helminth Eggs in Irish Equine Populations.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 7;13(4).
                doi: 10.3390/ani13040581pubmed: 36830368google scholar: lookup
              2. Živković S, Pavlović I, Mijatović B, Trailović I, Trailović D. Prevalence, Intensity and Risks Involved in Helminth Infections in Domestic Mountain Pony and Balkan Donkey in Nature Park Stara Planina, Serbia.. Iran J Parasitol 2021 Apr-Jun;16(2):318-326.
                doi: 10.18502/ijpa.v16i2.6283pubmed: 34557248google scholar: lookup
              3. Elmeligy E, Abdelbaset A, Elsayed HK, Bayomi SA, Hafez A, Abu-Seida AM, El-Khabaz KAS, Hassan D, Ghandour RA, Khalphallah A. Oxidative stress in Strongylus spp. infected donkeys treated with piperazine citrate versus doramectin.. Open Vet J 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):238-250.
                doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i2.8pubmed: 34307081google scholar: lookup
              4. Ramalho Sousa S, Anastácio S, Nóvoa M, Paz-Silva A, Madeira de Carvalho LM. Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 11;11(1).
                doi: 10.3390/ani11010155pubmed: 33440886google scholar: lookup
              5. Scala A, Tamponi C, Sanna G, Predieri G, Dessì G, Sedda G, Buono F, Cappai MG, Veneziano V, Varcasia A. Gastrointestinal Strongyles Egg Excretion in Relation to Age, Gender, and Management of Horses in Italy.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 3;10(12).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10122283pubmed: 33287298google scholar: lookup
              6. Hedberg-Alm Y, Penell J, Riihimäki M, Osterman-Lind E, Nielsen MK, Tydén E. Parasite Occurrence and Parasite Management in Swedish Horses Presenting with Gastrointestinal Disease-A Case-Control Study.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 7;10(4).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10040638pubmed: 32272754google scholar: lookup
              7. Sanna G, Pipia AP, Tamponi C, Manca R, Varcasia A, Traversa D, Scala A. Anthelmintics efficacy against intestinal strongyles in horses of Sardinia, Italy.. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2016 Jun;1(2):15-19.
                doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2016.01.001pubmed: 29988184google scholar: lookup
              8. Kaspar A, Pfister K, Nielsen MK, Silaghi C, Fink H, Scheuerle MC. Detection of Strongylus vulgaris in equine faecal samples by real-time PCR and larval culture - method comparison and occurrence assessment.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jan 11;13(1):19.
                doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0918-ypubmed: 28077153google scholar: lookup
              9. Nielsen MK, Scare J, Gravatte HS, Bellaw JL, Prado JC, Reinemeyer CR. Changes in Serum Strongylus Vulgaris-Specific Antibody Concentrations in Response to Anthelmintic Treatment of Experimentally Infected Foals.. Front Vet Sci 2015;2:17.
                doi: 10.3389/fvets.2015.00017pubmed: 26664946google scholar: lookup
              10. 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
              11. Nielsen MK, Vidyashankar AN, Bellaw J, Gravatte HS, Cao X, Rubinson EF, Reinemeyer CR. Serum Strongylus vulgaris-specific antibody responses to anthelmintic treatment in naturally infected horses.. Parasitol Res 2015 Feb;114(2):445-51.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-4201-5pubmed: 25358238google scholar: lookup
              12. Andersen UV, Howe DK, Dangoudoubiyam S, Toft N, Reinemeyer CR, Lyons ET, Olsen SN, Monrad J, Nejsum P, Nielsen MK. SvSXP: a Strongylus vulgaris antigen with potential for prepatent diagnosis.. Parasit Vectors 2013 Apr 4;6:84.
                doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-84pubmed: 23557195google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.