Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, with emphasis on strongyle infection in horses in Tartu County, Estonia
Date
2022Embargo Lift Date
10.09.2022Author
Oinonen, Pihla Melissa Ottiilia
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Show full item recordAbstract
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.