Strongyles invasions in mares during the prenatal and early gestation period.

摘要

The aim of the study was to assess strongylus infection in mares during the first three months of pregnancy. Studies were carried out on 11 mares naturally infected with strongyles and divided into 3 groups: mares with 1-2 foalings (group I); mares with 3-6 foalings (group II) and mares with 9-10 foalings (group III). Each group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups: subgroup A included mares which had bred mare foals while subgroup B included mares which had bred stallion foals. Faecal samples were collected 7 days before foaling and at weekly intervals up to day 63 and then every two weeks up to day 115 following the foaling date. The intensity of strongyle invasion in mares was directly related to the postnatal period, number of foalings and sex of the foals. The highest number of excreted eggs was observed on day 21 postpartum in mares that gave birth to female foals, while a significant decrease in the amount of eggs was noted in mares that gave birth to male foals which significantly increased only on day 28. During the following gestations, the intensity of the strongyle invasion was reduced up to day 42 in group A and day 49 in group B. A gradual increase in the number of eggs was observed until day 77 (1000 eggs in group A on day 115 following foaling and 796 in group B). The hormones produced during oestrus and early pregnancy seem to affect the progress of strongylidae infection in mares..