Study on Strongyle Infection of Donkeys and Horses in Hosaena District, Southern Ethiopia

Detection of SNPs and benzimidazole resistance in strongyle nematode eggs of horses by allele-specific PCR

This study was conducted to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the benzimidazole (BZ) resistance in strongyle nematode egg populations in horses using molecular techniques. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected from horses in 26 farms in two provinces (Kayseri and Nevşehir) of the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye between May and August 2022. The flotation method was used to detect strongyle nematode eggs in the fecal samples of the horses. Afterward, strongyle nematode eggs were collected, and the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) technique was used to detect the BZ resistance. BZ-susceptible and BZ-resistant PCR products were sequenced to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene. The strongyle nematode eggs were determined in 85 (42.5%) out of 200 fecal samples. AS-PCR detected 50.58% (43/85) BZ-resistant (homozygous resistant) and 36.4% (31/85) BZ-susceptible (homozygous susceptible) genes in the strongyle eggs. Both BZ-resistant and BZ-susceptible genes (heterozygous) were determined in 11 samples. BZ-resistant and BZ-susceptible allele frequencies were determined as 57.0% (48.5/85) and 43.0% (36.5/85), respectively. SNPs were detected only in codon 200 of the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene in four sequenced isolates of the two resistant and two susceptible isolates. This study is the first molecular report on BZ resistance in strongyle nematode eggs in horses in Türkiye. The widespread prevalence of BZ-resistant alleles in equine strongyle nematodes shows the requirement for the immediate usage of other anthelmintics instead of the BZ group drugs for the effective management and control of equine strongyle nematodes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia

We performed this review to determine the weighted prevalence of equids parasitic infections in Ethiopia. Article searches on parasites of equids were conducted using PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Sciences, Scopus, AJOLs and Research Gate. A random effects model was used to estimate the weighted prevalence and to study heterogeneity. The primary searches generated, 3082 potential studies, of which 66 reports met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. There were 32 reports involving two or more equids species, eighteen on donkeys, and sixteen on horses. Moreover, fifty of the reports mentioned helminth infections in equids, thirteen on protozoans, and three on ectoparasites. The estimated weighted prevalence of parasitic infections in equids was 58.3% (95% CI 50.8-65.4%, I2 = 99%). Helminths were the most prevalent parasites in equids, accounting for 77.1% (95% CI 71.4%, 82%, I2 = 98.5%), followed by ectoparasites at 35.4% (95% CI 33.4-37.52%, I2 = 88.2%) and haemoparasites (protozoans) at 10.84% (95% CI 6.6%, 17.3%, I2 = 98.1%). Furthermore, with a prevalence of 82.3% (95% CI 75.9-87.3%, I2 = 97.4%), donkeys were the most affected equids with helminth parasites. From the reports, we found forty-three species of helminth parasites affecting equids, including thirty-four nematode species (Strongylus, Cyathostomum, Coronocyclus, Cylicocyclus, Cylicostephanus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagodontus, Strongyloides, Triodontophorus, Gyalocephalus, Poteriostomum, Dictyocaulus, Oxyuris, Habronema, Draschia, Parascaris, Setaria, and Probstmayria species), three trematodes (two Fasciola and one Gastrodiscus species), three cestodes (two Anoplocephala and one Anoplocephaloides species) and three botfly larvae (one Rhinoestrus and two Gasterophilus species). Trypanosoma species (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei, T. equiperdum, and T. evansi), piroplasms (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), and Eimeria species have also been reported to affect equids. Ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, A. gemma, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, R. evertisi evertisi, R. pulchellus, R. muhsame, R. sanguineus, Hyalomma rufipes, and Hy. truncatum) and lice (Bovicola equi and Haematopinus asini) were the ectoparasites recorded to affect equids. The risk of publication bias across studies was likely to be high due to differences in publication year and diagnostic techniques. In conclusion, parasitic infections of equids are common in Ethiopia and are caused by a variety of parasite species, putting the performance and well-being of these packing animals at risk. Therefore, more research is needed to identify infection risk factors and raise awareness of the consequences of parasitism in order to provide strategies to mitigate the problems in equids.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3.

Investigation of Strongyle Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Horses in and around Alage District, Ethiopia

Background

Horses are used for a variety of purposes in Ethiopia. However, their service is hampered by a variety of health issues. Strongylosis is a parasitic infestation of the gastrointestinal tract that has a significant impact on the working ability, reproductive performance, well-being, and welfare of horses. The existence of Strongylosis in the study area is reported from clinical cases; however, its prevalence has not been well studied.

Objective

The current study was carried out from January 2019 to July 2019, to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Strongyle in horses in and around Alage district.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used, and 384 horses were sampled from three peasant associations inseparably. The floatation technique was used in laboratory analysis.

Result

Strongylosis was discovered in 67.19 percent of the cases. In Naka, Dilbato, and Koricho peasant associations, the infestation magnitudes were 64.1%, 68%, and 69.5%, respectively. The increased level of animal-related prevalence was observed in male (68.1 percent), young (84.4 percent), and poor body condition (90 percent) horses. Age and body condition scores were statistically significant associations with the disease under study at p ≤ 0.000. While sex and peasant associations did not predict the problem significantly (p ≤ 0.05), young horses and horses in poor and medium body conditions are 4.66 (CI: 2.22–9.76), 9.63 (CI: 3.77–24.63), and 1.93 (1.03–3.60) times more likely to be infected with Strongylosis, respectively.

Conclusions

The occurrence of Strongylosis is determined independently by age and BCS. Strongyle infestations are common in horses in the study area, posing a significant barrier to horse production and well-being. As a result, appropriate disease prevention and control measures should be implemented.

Study on Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Equines in and around Bekoji, South Eastern Ethiopia

Parasitic infections can cause a variety of respiratory, intestinal, and other problems in horses, as well as contribute to some performance issues. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in and around Bekoji, South Eastern Ethiopia, from November 2020 to June 2021 to identify species and evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys and horses, using direct fecal smear, floatation methods, and larval cultures. In this study, the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites was 94.5% (363 out of 384), with donkeys accounting for 95.8% and horses accounting for 90.5%. The coprological study indicated that an overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites was 87%, 8.3%, 2.5%, 1.4%, and 0.8% for mixed parasite infection, nonmigratory strongylids, migratory strongylids, Parascaris equorum, and Oxyuris equi, respectively. Among mixed infections, nonmigratory strongylids+migratory strongylids (51.5%) occurred most frequently. The odds of male horses being infected by GIT nematodes were 1.59 times higher than male donkeys. Horses which have poor body condition were 2.94 times more infected than donkeys. The odds of old-aged donkeys were 3.11 times more infected than horses. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes with species and body conditions of the animals. However, no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was seen in the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites between the sex and age of the Equidae. The mean fecal egg count of nematodes revealed that horses (1364.4 ± 483.5) had a more severe infection than donkeys with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The current study determined there was a high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites in Equidae. Regular deworming, improved housing and nutrition management systems, increased animal owner awareness, and prevention techniques should all be undertaken to minimize the disease's economic burden in the area.