The incidence and species composition of Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) causing equine myiasis in northern Xinjiang, China.
Abstract: A survey was conducted on the detection of the larval Gasterophilus species in 90 equines via necropsy or after administering oral ivermectin in Xinjian, China, from 2008 to 2013. All 90 (100%) equines were infested by larval Gasterophilus, and 3723second instar larvae (L2) and 63,778 third instar larvae (L3) were collected from faecal samples and the digestive tract, a ratio of L2:L3=1:17. Over 84.45% of the animals contained ≤1500 larvae and 7.78% had >2000 larvae. The highest totals of L2 and L 3 larvae in any one animal were 1208 in Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus), 2491 in Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), and 1785 in the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus). Six species of Gasterophilus were identified, with the following proportions of overall parasite abundance: Gasterophilus pecorum 88.94%, Gasterophilus nigricornis 4.94%, Gasterophilus nasalis 3.93%, Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis 1.91%, Gasterophilus intestinalis 0.19%, and Gasterophilus inermis 0.087%. A majority of equines (n=32, 35.57%) was infested with five Gasterophilus species, while 29 animals (32.22%) harboured four species, 13 animals (14.44%) had six, 12 animals (13.33%) had three, three (3.33%) had two, and one (1.11%) had only one species. The percentage of Przewalski's horses infested was higher than local domestic horse or Mongolian wild ass.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2016-01-02 PubMed ID: 26827858DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.12.028Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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’s main exploration is the incidence and species composition of Gasterophilus, a fly species whose larvae cause myiasis in equines, found in northern Xinjiang, China. Involved in the research were 90 equines whose examinations took place over a span of five years (2008-2013).
Research Methodology and Results
- The researchers examined 90 equines in northern Xinjiang, China, over a five-year period. This was executed via necropsy or through administering oral ivermectin, a medication used to kill parasite infestation.
- Rather intriguingly, all equines involved in the study (100%) had infestations of larval Gasterophilus. Numerous larvae were extracted in the study, including 3723 second instar larvae (L2) and 63,778 third instar larvae (L3). The ratio of L2:L3 based on the study was 1:17, suggesting higher occurrences of L3 larvae in the equines.
- The study also revealed that a vast majority of the animals (over 84.45%) had less than or equal to 1500 larvae in their bodies. Notably, 7.78% of the animals harbored over 2000 larvae.
Species Distribution and Infection Rates
- The study identified six different species of the Gasterophilus fly. The most prevalent species identified were Gasterophilus pecorum (88.94%), Gasterophilus nigricornis (4.94%), and Gasterophilus nasalis (3.93%). The least abundant species were Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis (1.91%), Gasterophilus intestinalis (0.19%), and Gasterophilus inermis (0.087%).
- Moreover, the research also analyzed the degree of mixed infections of Gasterophilus species among the equines. The results showed that 35.57% of the equines had five Gasterophilus species, 32.22% housed four species, and 14.44% homed six.
- The study also disclosed that Przewalski’s horses had higher infestation rates when compared to local domestic horse or Mongolian wild asses.
Significance of the Study
- This study is vital in understanding the incidence and species composition of Gasterophilus within equines, especially in the region of northern Xinjiang, China.
- Such comprehensive research can help in strategizing effective preventative and control methods to help mitigate equine myiasis, which can have detrimental effects on the health and productivity of the equines.
- Moreover, the high prevalence could indicate environmental factors that favor the presence of Gasterophilus, which could be addressed to lower the incidence of infestation.
Cite This Article
APA
Liu SH, Li K, Hu DF.
(2016).
The incidence and species composition of Gasterophilus (Diptera, Gasterophilidae) causing equine myiasis in northern Xinjiang, China.
Vet Parasitol, 217, 36-38.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.12.028 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address: likai_sino@sina.com.
- Key Laboratory of Non-invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address: liuhuidaofeng@163.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biodiversity
- China
- Coinfection
- Diptera / classification
- Diptera / physiology
- Equidae / parasitology
- Feces / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Larva
- Myiasis / parasitology
- Myiasis / veterinary
- Parasite Load
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Rabei ȘO, Pivariu D, Cocian AI, Vaccaro D, Costache-Bobescu P, Mihalca AD. Seasonality, control, and risk factors for Gasterophilus intestinalis egg intensity in horses from Romania under field conditions. Parasitol Res 2025 Aug 6;124(8):87.
- Rabei ȘO, Cârstolovean AS, Culda CA, Mihalca AD. Gasterophilus in horses from Romania: diversity, prevalence, seasonal dynamics, and distribution. Parasitol Res 2024 Dec 23;123(12):416.
- Zhang Y, Zhang K, Wang M, Wu X, Liu J, Chu H, Zhang D, Li K, Huang H. Studies on the embryonic development and larval infection potential of the stomach bot flies, Gasterophilus pecorum. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024 Apr;23:100917.
- Jia H, Gao S, Tang L, Fu Y, Xiong Y, Ente M, Mubalake S, Shao C, Li K, Hu D, Zhang D. First report of four rare strongylid species infecting endangered Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Xinjiang, China. Parasit Vectors 2023 Oct 25;16(1):385.
- Xu W, Li X, Wang Q, Zhang C, Yang M, Zhou T, Li K, Zhang D. Insights into the Antennal Characteristics and Olfactory Strategy of the Endangered Rhino Stomach Bot Fly Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae). Insects 2022 Sep 29;13(10).
- Zhang K, Zhou R, Huang H, Ma W, Qi Y, Li B, Zhang D, Li K, Chu H. Host feces, olfactory beacon guiding aggregation of intestinal parasites Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae). Parasitol Res 2022 Sep;121(9):2601-2613.
- Hu D, Yang J, Qi Y, Li B, Li K, Mok KM. Metagenomic Analysis of Fecal Archaea, Bacteria, Eukaryota, and Virus in Przewalski's Horses Following Anthelmintic Treatment. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:708512.
- Huang H, Zhang K, Shao C, Wang C, Ente M, Wang Z, Zhang D, Li K. Spatial distribution of Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera) eggs in the desert steppe of the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (Xinjiang, China). BMC Ecol Evol 2021 Sep 6;21(1):169.
- Zhou R, Yang J, Zhang K, Qi Y, Ma W, Wang Z, Ente M, Li K. Analysis of volatiles from feces of released Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) in Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) spawning habitat. Sci Rep 2021 Aug 2;11(1):15671.
- Huang H, Zhang K, Zhang B, Liu S, Chu H, Qi Y, Zhang D, Li K. Analysis on the relationship between winter precipitation and the annual variation of horse stomach fly community in arid desert steppe, Northwest China (2007-2019). Integr Zool 2022 Jan;17(1):128-138.
- Hu D, Chao Y, Zhang B, Wang C, Qi Y, Ente M, Zhang D, Li K, Mok KM. Effects of Gasterophilus pecorum infestation on the intestinal microbiota of the rewilded Przewalski's horses in China. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0251512.
- Zhang K, Huang H, Zhou R, Zhang B, Wang C, Ente M, Li B, Zhang D, Li K. The impact of temperature on the life cycle of Gasterophilus pecorum in northwest China. Parasit Vectors 2021 Mar 1;14(1):129.
- Zhou R, Zhang K, Zhang T, Zhou T, Chu H, Ge Y, Wang C, Li K. Identification of volatile components from oviposition and non-oviposition plants of Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae). Sci Rep 2020 Sep 25;10(1):15731.
- Li XY, Pape T, Zhang D. Taxonomic review of Gasterophilus (Oestridae, Gasterophilinae) of the world, with updated nomenclature, keys, biological notes, and distributions. Zookeys 2019;891:119-156.
- Li XY, Pape T, Zhang D. Gasterophilus flavipes (Oestridae: Gasterophilinae): A horse stomach bot fly brought back from oblivion with morphological and molecular evidence. PLoS One 2019;14(8):e0220820.
- Yan L, Zhang M, Tang L, Ente M, Ma X, Chu H, Li K, Hu D, Zhang D. First reports of nasal and traumatic myiasis infection in endangered Przewalski's horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Aug;9:21-24.
- Hoseini SM, Zaheri BA, Adibi MA, Ronaghi H, Moshrefi AH. Histopathological Study of Esophageal Infection with Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Oestridae) in Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager). J Arthropod Borne Dis 2017 Sep;11(3):441-445.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
