Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminths of equines in Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The prevalence of equines helminthosis studied from November 2011 to May 2012 in two agroecological zones Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence, and to see the distribution of internal helminth parasites of equines. A total of 500 faecal samples collected for coprological examination of gastrointestinal helminth ova. From each species of studied animals 200 positive faecal samples were pooled and cultured, and then the larvae recovered and identified. The coprological examination revealed 100% Strongyle, 16.6% Fasciola species, 10.2% Parascaris equorum, 2.1% Oxyuris equi, 1.1% Strongyloides westeri, and 0.7% Gastrodiscus species in donkeys. The coproscopic examination of horse faeces revealed prevalence of 100% Strongyle, 17.5% Fasciola species, 5.5% Parascaris equorum, 1.4% Oxyuris equi, 0.5% Strongyloides westeri. A statistically significant variations in the prevalence of equines helminthes were not observed among putative risk factors (P>0.05), except in the case of Parascaris equorum and Fasciola species, in which statistical significant variations were observed with age and purpose of the animal, respectively (P<0.05). The average egg per gram of faeces in this study was 689.8, with a range of 100-1,600 eggs per gram of faeces. Statistically significant variations in mean eggs per gram of faeces were observed in all the considered putative risk factors (P<0.05), except in the case of sexes. The coproculture performed on 200 pooled faecal samples revealed that Cyathostome species, Strongyius vulgaris, Trichostrongylus axei, Triodontophorus species, Strongylus equinus, Strongylus edentatus and Oesophagodontus robustus were the major helminth parasites of equines in Damot-Gale district, Wolaita.