Helminth infections in Italian donkeys: Strongylus vulgaris more common than Dictyocaulus arnfieldi

Abstract

Donkeys have been used as working animals for transport and farm activities worldwide. Recently, in European countries, there has been an increasing interest in donkeys due to their use as pets, onotherapy or milk production. During 2014–2016, a countrywide survey was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of principal helminth infections in 1775 donkeys in 77 Italian farms. A questionnaire on management and parasite control practices was filled out for each farm. Faecal samples were examined using a modified McMaster technique, a centrifugation/flotation method and a sedimentation technique. Pooled coprocultures were performed for differentiation of strongylid eggs. Strongyles were the most common parasites detected (84.9%), followed by Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (6.9%), Oxyuris equi (5.8%), Parascaris spp. (3.6%), Anoplocephala spp. (1.0%), Strongyloides westeri (0.3%). Coprocultures revealed an omnipresence of cyathostomins (100%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (31.0%), Poteriostomum spp. (25.0%), Triodontophorus spp. (9.0%), Strongylus edentatus (7.0%), Strongylus equinus (5.0%). Logistic regression analysis identified breed, co-pasture with horses, living area, herd size and number of treatments as significantly associated with strongyles. Sex, age, living area and herd size were significantly associated with Parascaris spp. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was significantly associated with sex, grass, co-pasture with horses, living area and herd size. Strongylus vulgaris was significantly associated with living area and herd size. The mean number of anthelmintic treatments/year was 1.4; most of the donkeys (71.8%) were dewormed using an ivermectin drug. It is important to design parasite programs to specifically address both D. arnfieldi and S. vulgaris in donkeys, and this is especially important if donkeys co-graze with horses.

Chromosome Instability in Pony of Esperia Breed Naturally Infected by Intestinal Strongylidae

“…In this pony population, anthelmintic treatments are carried out without performing a coprological diagnosis once per year, and this anthelmintic treatment scheme is quite different from those reported in horses in Italy [ 27 ] but is very similar to that reported in the Italian donkey population [ 28 ]. Contrary to the diffusion of anthelmintic resistance worldwide [ 29 ], anthelmintic treatment with fenbendazole has been shown to be highly effective in this wild pony population, and for this reason, as reported for donkeys [ 30 ], ponies of Esperia can be considered an animal population in refugia.…”

Horse and donkey parasitology: differences and analogies for a correct diagnostic and management of major helminth infections

“…As in horses and also in donkeys, the most common nematode parasites are intestinal strongyles (large and small strongyles) (Buono et al ., 2021 ; Dias de Castro et al ., 2022 ). In both species, parasitic infections are caused mainly (>90%) by small strongyles (Buono et al ., 2021 ; Jota Baptista et al ., 2021 ; Nielsen et al ., 2021 ).…”

“…As in horses and also in donkeys, the most common nematode parasites are intestinal strongyles (large and small strongyles) (Buono et al ., 2021 ; Dias de Castro et al ., 2022 ). In both species, parasitic infections are caused mainly (>90%) by small strongyles (Buono et al ., 2021 ; Jota Baptista et al ., 2021 ; Nielsen et al ., 2021 ). A recent meta-analysis reported that Cylicocyclus nassatus , Cylicostephanus longibursatus and Cyathostomum catinatum represent about 55% of the specimens in horses (Bellaw and Nielsen, 2020 ).…”

“…Although horse foals (<1 year), yearlings (1–2 years) and young horses (3–5 years) are responsible for the majority of intestinal strongyle egg excretion (Lester et al ., 2018 ; Scala et al ., 2020 ), in donkeys this phenomenon still needs to be determined. Until recently, no differences in parasite FEC have been observed among age categories (da Costa et al ., 2018 ; Maestrini et al ., 2020 ; Buono et al ., 2021 ). Moreover, it has been reported that intestinal strongyle FEC is higher in donkeys than in horses (Mezgebu et al ., 2013 ).…”

“…Moreover, it has been reported that intestinal strongyle FEC is higher in donkeys than in horses (Mezgebu et al ., 2013 ). This trend is not quite implicit but perhaps it could be due to different reasons, such as the lower frequency of anthelmintic treatment in donkeys than in horses (Buono et al ., 2021 ). Another interesting observation is the smaller amount of feces produced by donkeys when compared to an average-sized horse.…”