Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Associated Intrinsic Risk Factors in and Around District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The study was aimed to know the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of equines in district Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 150 fecal samples were randomly collected from equines including both horses and donkeys with the age ranging from 2 to 10 years in and around district Peshawar; and examined through direct microscopy and simple flotation methods. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 75.4% with 80% in donkeys and 70.66% in horses. The prevalence was higher in the younger group (82.22%) followed by 5 year old (75.38%) and 10 years old (67.5%), the females were more prone to nematode infection (77.77%) than males (72.5%). Similarly, the prevalence was higher in emaciated (88.6%) as compared to moderate (71.42%) and healthy equines (30.9%). The Strongylus species were more prevalent both in horses and donkeys (20% and 26%) in Peshawar followed by Parascaris equorum (14%), Oxyuris equi was 10% in horses and 4% in donkeys while, the prevalence of Strongyloides westeri was 6%, about 18% of the horses were infected by mix species, while in donkeys mix infection was 28%. It is concluded that the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was quite high both in horses and donkeys in and around district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hence to utilize horses and donkeys more efficiently in the respective area, further control measures against gastrointestinal nematodes and other parasites as well must be necessary.