Prevalence and degree of gastrointestinal nematode infection of horses (Equus caballus) used as public transport in Mataram city, Indonesia

Abstract

Horses of Equus caballus species which are used as public transportation in the form of Cidomo (traditional horse cart) in Mataram City need to be considered about their welfare and health. A common problem in horses is gastrointestinal nematode worms that can induce negative health effects on horses. Furthermore, the infective larvae of nematodes can survive in the environment under optimum conditions of temperature and humidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and degree of infection of gastrointestinal nematodes in horses used as public transportation (Cidomo) in Mataram City. The cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2020 to collect feces of Cidomo horses at 8 traditional markets in Mataram City. A total of 131 feces of horses as Cidomo were taken directly from the rectum of Cidomo horses by the purposive method. The Morphology, prevalence of nematode egg, and Egg per gram (EPG) for a degree of infection were used examined using the floating McMaster technique. Morphological data and the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in horses (Equus caballus) as Cidomo were presented descriptively, and the EPG value was analyzed by the Anova test, while the degree of infection has been categorized as low, medium, and high levels. The eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes (Trichosstrongylus spp, Strongylus spp, and Capillaria spp) have been found in feces of horses as Cidomo at 8 traditional markets in Mataram City with a prevalence of 74.04% (97/131). The EPG value of the gastrointestinal nematode of feces of horses as Cidomo between 8 traditional markets in Mataram City showed no significant difference with p > 0.05 (p-value = 0.227). Overall the degree of infection of gastrointestinal nematodes in horses (Equus caballus) as Cidomo in Mataram City was a medium level with a mean value of EPG = 547.628 ± 82.059 The results showed that the gastrointestinal nematodes have been infected horses as Cidomo in 8 traditional markets in Mataram City with a medium level of infection degree.