Contamination of the environment by strongylid (Nematoda: Strongylidae) infective larvae at horse farms of various types in Ukraine

Abstract

Analysis of the influence of horse-keeping conditions by contamination of the environment (pastures, paddocks, and stalls) by the strongylid infective larvae (L(3)) was carried out at various types of horse farms, hippodromes, and riding clubs in Ukraine. A total of 1,237 horses from three types of horse-keeping conditions were examined. Epidemiological studies of stall and grazing area (pasture and paddocks) contamination by L(3) were performed at hippodrome (stalled horse-keeping) and horse farms with stall/paddock-keeping and stall/pasture-keeping conditions. Grass and stall litter samples were examined by the Baermann procedure. It was found that horses of stall-keeping conditions had the lowest level of strongylid infection (prevalence 46.4-77.8%, average infection 25.6-92.9 eggs per gram of feces (EPG)) and lowest proportion of large strongyle L(3) in coprocultures (1.6-11.3%). Horses of stall/pasture-keeping conditions were the most infected (prevalence 95.1-100%, average infection 198.2-453.7 EPG), and the proportion of large strongyle L(3) was 17.3-24.7%. Strongyle L(3) were found in litter of all parts of individual stalls; areas at the stall center, "toilet", and entrance were the most contaminated. The highest L(3) number in stall litter was registered in summer. Contamination of permanent pasture grass by L(3) was notably lower than grass in paddocks (86.3-161.4 L(3)/kg compared with 305.9-409.1 L(3)/kg). The highest level of pasture grass contamination was observed in the middle of summer (July)--up 970.7 L(3)/kg. The results obtained confirmed importance of environmental contamination in epidemiology of horse strongylidosis at various types of horse-keeping conditions.

Equine Cyathostominae Can Develop to Infective Third Stage Larvae on Straw Bedding

“…This has clear implications for the health management of housed equine animals, and has potential implications for the management of other grazing species. Similar findings have previously been reported from Czech Republic and Ukraine [15][16][17].…”

“…The presence of equine strongyles on bedding materials of housed horses has been reported [15][16][17]. In these longitudinal studies, although higher numbers of infective larvae were generally detected during summer months, infective larvae were found on bedding material throughout the 12-month study periods [16,17]. Our aim was to study the development of strongyle larvae on straw bedding.…”

“…These climatic influences on larval development have been extensively reviewed [14]. The presence of equine strongyles on bedding materials of housed horses has been reported [15][16][17]. In these longitudinal studies, although higher numbers of infective larvae were generally detected during summer months, infective larvae were found on bedding material throughout the 12-month study periods [16,17].…”

Investigation of strongyle EPG values in horse mares relative to known age, number positive, and level of egg shedding in field studies on 26 farms in Central Kentucky (2010–2011)

“…It is known that various horse-keeping conditions on horse farms significantly influence both the environmental contamination of strongylid infective larvae and level of horse infections (Herd et al 1985;Reid et al 1995;Osterman Lind et al 1999;Romaniuk et al 2004;Gawor 2006;Kornaś et al 2010;Kuzmina 2011). In our current study, there were indications that animal density may have been an important factor in small strongyle infection.…”

“…It is known that animals exposed to small strongyles typically develop some immunity to infection as they age, resulting in lower infections (Döpfer et al 2004;Klei and Chapman 1999;Love et al 1999;Osterman Lind et al 1999;Corning 2009). Data on definite known ages of equids are sparse.…”