Gastrointestinal parasites of horses (<i>Equus caballus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) and risk factors associated with equine coccidiosis in Kwara and Niger States, Nigeria

Abstract

About two-third of the parasitic infections in animals are believed to occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Coccidiosis is an important disease of horses and it is responsible for a great economic setback worldwide. This study was designed to determine the species diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of horses and the risk factors associated with Eimeria infections in horses in Kwara and Niger States, North Central Nigeria. Faecal samples were collected from 105 horses in Kwara and Niger States. Simple floatation and formalin-ethyl acetate concentration techniques were used as diagnostic techniques. An overall prevalence of 62.86% (66/105) was recorded. Eleven gastrointestinal parasites comprising of 7 nematodes, 2 trematodes, 1 protozoan and 1 cestode were detected. Strongylus spp. (33.33%; 35/105) and Eimeria spp. (28.57%; 30/105) were the most prevalent. Fortysix (43.81%) of the sampled population had multiple gastrointestinal parasites infection. Body condition score, presence/ absence of diarrhoea and horse ownership were significantly association with the occurrence of Eimeria infection. This appears to be the first report on gastrointestinal parasites of horses in Kwara and Niger States of Nigeria. The high prevalence reported in this study calls for horse owners to improve on the veterinary medical attention given to their horses as gastrointestinal parasitism is a major cause of economic loss in equine husbandry. The curtailing of gastrointestinal parasitism will improve production, reproduction and performance of horses in the study areas.

Effect of Vegetable Oils Feed Additives on Endoparasites Associated with Dewormed Racing Horses

“…Our data on prevalence correspond with those by Ramey and Nielsen [43], wherein 78% of examined horses were infested by strongylids. Also, studies by Eslami et al [44], Bulgaru and Tudor [45] as well as Ola-Fadunsin et al [46] indicated Strongylidae as the most abundant group; however, the values of prevalence were lower-28.3%, 27.92% and 33.33%, respectively, vs. 78% (Thoroughbreds) and 100% (Arabian horses) in the present research.…”

Factors Influencing the Incidence of Eimeria Leuckarti in Horses

“…Results of present survey first time depicted association of various determinants with the incidence of coccidiosis in horses at large scale. There are various reports of E. leuckarti from different parts of world showing prevalence from 0.3 to 80% (Colombia 0.3%, Kashmir 0.34%, Nigeria 1.2%, Romania 1.90%, Greece 4%, Turkey 4.5% & 5.88%, Finland 1% & 5.8%, Poland 6.7%, Iran 7.68%, Nigeria 28.57%, Brazil 40.4%, USA 41.6%, Germany 80%) (Beelitz et al 1994;Lyons and Tolliver 2004;Studzińska et al 2008;Pandit et al 2008;Papazahariadou et al 2009;Umur and Açici 2009;Ehizibolo et al 2012;Ionită et al 2013;Aromaa et al 2018;Ola-Fadunsin et al 2019;Ramírez-Hernández et al 2019;Hautala et al 2019;Gomes et al 2019;Khamesipour et al 2021). Wide range of percentage may be attributed to different techniques of fecal examination and age of sampled animals (Studzińska et al 2008).…”

Epidemiological study on equine coccidiosis in North and Northeast of Iran

“…The oocysts shed as the final product of the sexual reproduction cycle infect new hosts through their faeces (Tyrnenopoulou et al., 2021). There is a greater prevalence of infections in foals aged 30–125 days compared to adults (Bianchi et al., 2019; Ola‐Fadunsin et al., 2019).…”

“…as the final product of the sexual reproduction cycle infect new hosts through their faeces (Tyrnenopoulou et al, 2021). There is a greater prevalence of infections in foals aged 30-125 days compared to adults (Bianchi et al, 2019;Ola-Fadunsin et al, 2019). Some cases of Eimeria are located throughout the villus but typically in enterocytes displaced in the lamina propria (Yun et al, 2000).…”