Estimating Hippobosca equina occurrence in primitive Polish horses.

摘要

The aim of the study was to estimate the extensiveness and intensity of Hippobosca equina in primitive Polish horses. Studies were carried out on 13 mares, 10 sucking colts as well as 15 mares and 10 stallions at 1.5-2 years of age from July 25-30, 2005. The presence of H. equina was found in all animals, but the number of insects depended on the horse's age and sex. The extensiveness (E.i) and intensity (I.i) of invasion fluctuated between 23-38.5% 0.6-2.2 in mares, 10-30% and 1.0 in sucking colts, while in 1.5-2 year-old mares and stallions E.i. and I.i. it was 40-80%, 2.1-9 53.3-86.7% and 3.8-6.5 respectively. A certain level of anxiety, which manifested in intensive tail lashing and frequent scraping of posts or tree trunks, was observed in the animals despite the minor level of intensity in the invasion which did not exceed 9 insects per animal. Skin Inflammations were also noted, especially in mares, which were unrelated to the amount of parasites existing in the anus and pudendum lips. The lack of interest in H. equina invasions in horses on the part of veterinary surgeons is probably due to difficulties in actually diagnosing them, since this insect exists in places which are invisible and difficult to examine in grazing animals.