Prevalence of Eimeria leuckarti (Flesch, 1883) and intensity of faecal oocyst output in a herd of horses during a summer grazing season

Abstract

The prevalence of Eimeria leuckarti infection and the intensity of faecal oocyst output were determined in a herd of 14 mares and their foals in northwest Germany using a sedimentation technique at weekly intervals during a summer grazing season from May to September. None of the mares, but all foals shed oocysts on at least one occassion. The patent periods lasted up to 16 weeks. The mean intensity of oocyst ouput (0.1–33 o.p.g.) was very low. No clinical signs of gastrointestinal disorder were noticed in any of the foals during this study.