Epidemiological study on factors influencing the occurrence of helminth eggs in horses in Germany based on sent-in diagnostic samples

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes are ubiquitous parasites of grazing equines with Parascaris spp., and strongyles being the most relevant ones regarding the prevalence and potential disease severity. Despite their importance, epidemiological data regarding the presence and egg-shedding intensities of these parasites are scarce. Data from 1067 horse samples collected on German horse farms initially to compare diagnostic methods were used for epidemiological analyses. Due to its higher sensitivity, presence/absence data were based on a combined sedimentation/flotation technique while faecal egg counts were based on Mini-FLOTAC. For strongyles, 46.5% of the samples were positive and the median egg-shedding intensity was 40 (range 5–2590). In multivariate analyses, prevalence and egg-shedding intensity were significantly influenced by season, age group and sample type. The drug used for the last treatment and the number of foals on the yard only affected prevalence while the number of horses on the yard and sex were only significant for egg-shedding intensity. For Parascaris spp., a prevalence of 4.6% and a median egg-shedding intensity of 0 (range 5–905) were observed. In multivariate analyses, the age group, the time since the last anthelmintic treatment, presence and number of foals had significant effects on ascarid prevalence whereas egg-shedding intensity was significantly influenced by age group and season only. Parascaris occurred only on yards with foals, but with an increasing number of foals, Parascaris egg-shedding intensity decreased. Prevalence and egg-shedding intensity were influenced by different but partially overlapping variables for Parascaris and strongyles.

Severely Asthmatic Horses Residing in a Mediterranean Climate Shed a Significantly Lower Number of Parasite Eggs Compared to Healthy Farm Mates

“…Because SEA is a disease that is characteristic of older animals [ 5 , 44 ], the horses enrolled in this study were all adults, and each SEA–control pair was approximately the same age (mean age difference, 2 years ± 2.6 years). Additionally, age is considered a risk factor for parasite infection, with young animals presenting an increased shedding of helminth eggs [ 45 , 46 ]. A gender-based pairing between the severely asthmatic horses and their farm mates was not always possible, since some farms only possessed adult animals of a specific gender.…”

BEVA primary care clinical guidelines: Equine parasite control

“…59 Horses below the age of three are more likely to be FEC positive for strongyles 16,24,33 and 1-3 years olds have the highest mean FEC. 46,64,[67][68][69][70] Season, 34,71,72 daily access to pasture and high stocking density (>30 horses/ha) all increase the risk of recording a higher FEC. 16 These variables make it difficult to recommend when and how often FEC should be performed, but the egg reappearance time from the previous anthelmintic treatment should be considered and monitoring should extend throughout the grazing season.…”

Moringa oleifera as a Natural Alternative for the Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Equines: A Review

“…Infection by Parascaris spp. is produced by oral absorption of eggs that contain third stage larvae, a stage in which they are highly pathogenic in foals and yearlings and are sporadically found in adult horses [51,52].…”

“…Infection by Parascaris spp. is produced by oral absorption of eggs that contain third stage larvae, a stage in which they are highly pathogenic in foals and yearlings and are sporadically found in adult horses [51,52]. On the other hand, researchers have reported that, as shown in Table 1, there is a high incidence in endemic areas of America, where the prevalence of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis infection exceeds that of humans, with a prevalence of 5, 3, and 28% of parasitic lesions in humans, dogs, and donkeys, respectively [53].…”

“…In equines, Parascaris equorum represents a great threat, especially for young horses, with a prevalence ranging from 31 to 61% [32]. In addition, P. equorum infection is associated with lethargy, loss of appetite, decreased weight gain, hypoproteinemia, cough, and runny nose, especially in young horses [68], even causing death due to intestinal impaction or rupture [52].…”