Intestinal parasite infections in horses from different types of environments [Polish]

摘要

The purpose of this study was to determine the current level of parasite infection in horses from different types of environments, de-wormed before and after the end of pasture season. The level of intestinal parasite infection was determined in the horses (three times annually from 1999 to 2001) by faecal examinations: the Me Master's method and larvae culture. The study investigated routinely treated horses: 752-975 from stables, 94-132 from stallions depots and 20-42 from riding clubs. Prevalence (%) and EPG was evaluated based from coprollogy samples. The horses were most heavily infected by small strongyles and the highest level of infection was found in horses from stables (39.3-84% and 242-933 EPG), then riding clubs (21.3-73.7%, 87-504 EPG) and stallions depots (41.8-61.9%, 119-347 EPG). Management systems, indoor (herd) or pasture (stud) influenced the severity of infection in the horses to a considerable degree, especially in the case of small strongyles. These differences may have been the result of the different conditions of maintenance (mostly moist or dry pastures, free or limited pasturage). It appears however that the most essential influence on the severity of the infections was the manner of treatment (type of anthelmintic, number of animals de wormed during the same period). Larvae morphology tests revealed that the faecal cultures contained very low levels of large stronglyes -0.13% infections. Roundworm infections in horses kept in stables was 1.3-14.4% and 39-1130 EPG and from stallions depots: 1.4-8.1% and 100-312 EPG respectively. Tapeworms were found only in two stables, and their prevelance was very low (max. 6.2%). Deworming horses twice a year did not significantly reduce infections, especially in the case of small strongyles, probably because the all horses from the various groups had, at various times, been treated by the same chemical compounds over a long period.