Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, with emphasis on strongyle infection in horses in Tartu County, Estonia

Abstract

Infections with gastrointestinal parasites can cause a variety of clinical signs in horses and controlling those infections is one important aspect in their welfare. Different species of gastrointestinal parasites pose different kinds of risks for horses’ health. Lassen and Peltola investigated the anthelmintic resistance in horses in Estonia in 2015 but little is known about the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in horses in Estonia. The study was conducted in Tartu County in Estonia. Faecal samples were collected from 102 randomly selected horses that originated from six different stables. All the samples were analysed quantitatively by modified McMaster method for the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite eggs and oocysts. Samples that had ≥ 20 strongyle-like eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were selected further to the larval culture. Larvae of stage 3 were cultivated with coproculture method and collected with modified Baermann method. Larvae were then identified as small or large strongyle larvae. Information for risk factor analysis were obtained through online questionnaire to the horse owners. According to the results, the prevalence of GI parasites in horses was 67,65%. Only strongyle-like eggs were detected in faecal samples. In identification of larvae a majority was identified as small strongyles.

Seedetrakti parasiitidega nakatumine võib hobustel põhjustada mitmesuguseid kliinilisi tunnuseid ja nende infektsioonide kontrolli all hoidmine on nende heaolus oluline aspekt. Erinevad seedetrakti parasiitide liigid kujutavad hobuste tervisele erinevat tüüpi riske. Lassen ja Peltola uurisid anthelmintikumide resistentsust hobustel Eestis 2015. aastal, kuid informatsioon hobuste seedetrakti parasiitide leviku kohta Eestis on puudu. Uuring viidi läbi Eestis Tartumaal. Väljaheiteproovid koguti 102-lt juhuslikult valitud hobuselt kuuest erinevast tallist. Kõiki proove analüüsiti kvantitatiivselt modifitseeritud McMasteri meetodiga seedetrakti parasiitide munade ja ootsüstide esinemise suhtes. Proovidest, milles oli ≥20 strongüliidi-tüüpi muna grammi rooja (EPG) kohta, kasvatati koprokultuuri meetodil parasiidimunadest nakkusvastsed. Nakkusvastseid koguti pärast kasvatamist kokku modifitseeritud Baermann meetodil. Seejärel liigitati vastsed suurteks või väikesteks strongüliidideks. Riskifaktorite analüüsiks vajalik teave saadi hobuste omanikele esitatud Interneti-küsimustiku kaudu. Tulemuste kohaselt oli seedetrakti parasiitide levimus hobustel 67.65%. Väljaheiteproovides tuvastati ainult strongüliidi-tüüpi parasiitide munad. Vastsete identifitseerimisel tuvastati peamiselt väikeseid strongüliide.