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Buono F, Veneziano V, Veronesi F, Molento MB. Horse and donkey parasitology: differences and analogies for a correct diagnostic and management of major helminth infections. Parasitology 2023; 150:1119-1138. [PMID: 37221816 PMCID: PMC10801385 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In June 2022, at the XXXII Conference of the Italian Society of Parasitology, the parallels of the main endoparasitic infections of horses and donkeys were discussed. Although these 2 species are genetically different, they can be challenged by a similar range of parasites (i.e. small and large strongyles, and Parascaris spp.). Although equids can demonstrate some level of resilience to parasites, they have quite distinct helminth biodiversity, distribution and intensity among different geographical locations and breeds. Heavily infected donkeys may show fewer clinical signs than horses. Although parasite control is primarily provided to horses, we consider that there may be a risk of drug-resistance parasitic infection through passive infection in donkeys when sharing the same pasture areas. Knowing the possible lack of drug efficacy (<90 or 80%), it is advocated the use of selective treatment for both species based on fecal egg counts. Adult horses should receive treatment when the threshold exceeds 200–500 eggs per gram (EPG) of small strongyles. Moreover, considering that there are no precise indications in donkeys, a value >300 EPG may be a safe recommendation. We have highlighted the main points of the discussion including the dynamics of helminth infections between the 2 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Buono
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Veneziano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marcelo Beltrão Molento
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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Song S, Wang S, Li N, Chang S, Dai S, Guo Y, Wu X, Cheng Y, Zeng S. Genome-wide association study to identify SNPs and candidate genes associated with body size traits in donkeys. Front Genet 2023; 14:1112377. [PMID: 36926587 PMCID: PMC10011486 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1112377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Yangyuan donkey is a domestic animal breed mainly distributed in the northwest region of Hebei Province. Donkey body shape is the most direct production index, can fully reflect the donkey's growth status, and is closely related to important economic traits. As one of the main breeding selection criteria, body size traits have been widely used to monitor animal growth and evaluate the selection response. Molecular markers genetically linked to body size traits have the potential to accelerate the breeding process of animals via marker-assisted selection. However, the molecular markers of body size in Yangyuan donkeys have yet to be explored. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study to identify the genomic variations associated with body size traits in a population of 120 Yangyuan donkeys. We screened 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms that were significantly associated with body size traits. Some genes distributed around these significant SNPs were considered candidates for body size traits, including SMPD4, RPS6KA6, LPAR4, GLP2R, BRWD3, MAGT1, ZDHHC15, and CYSLTR1. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses indicated that these genes were mainly involved in the P13K-Akt signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, calcium signaling pathway, phospholipase D signaling pathway, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions. Collectively, our study reported on a list of novel markers and candidate genes associated with body size traits in donkeys, providing useful information for functional gene studies and offering great potential for accelerating Yangyuan donkey breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Song
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shiwei Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Chang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shizhen Dai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yajun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanweilu Cheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shenming Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Amer MM, Desouky AY, Helmy NM, Abdou AM, Sorour SS. Identifying 3 rd larval stages of common strongylid and non-strongylid nematodes (class: Nematoda) infecting Egyptian equines based on morphometric analysis. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:432. [PMID: 36503529 PMCID: PMC9743504 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03526-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Strongylid and non-strongylid nematodes are one of the most important parasites infecting equines. The traditional method to identify these nematodes is through coproscopy and fecal culture. Because of the scarcity of data published in Egypt discussing the morphometric features of infective 3rd larvae of these nematodes, this study aims to provide a morphometric key for L3 of common strongylid and non-strongylid nematodes infecting Egyptian equines. For this reason, we cultured fecal samples containing GINs eggs and 3rd larval stages were identified based on their morphology (i.e., shape and number of intestinal cells (IC), shape of the esophagus, and shape of the tail sheath) in addition to computing their dimensions (i.e., length of larvae with sheath, length of the esophagus, length of intestinal cells, and body breadth). We identified 3rd larval stages of four strongylid nematodes (Cyathostomum sensu lato, Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus equinus, and Strongylus edentatus) as well as two non-strongylid nematodes (Strongyloides westeri, and Trichostrongylus axei). Statistically, our results revealed significant differences in terms of total length, body width, esophagus length, and gut length among 3rd larvae identified in the current study. The combination of both morphological and metric keys will allow the better identification of common strongylid and non-strongylid nematodes infecting equines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moaz M. Amer
- Biotechnology Department, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, 12618 Egypt
| | - A. Y. Desouky
- grid.411978.20000 0004 0578 3577Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
| | - Nashwa M. Helmy
- Biotechnology Department, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, 12618 Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Abdou
- grid.412707.70000 0004 0621 7833Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523 Egypt
| | - Sh. S. Sorour
- grid.411978.20000 0004 0578 3577Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516 Egypt
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Study on Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Equines in and around Bekoji, South Eastern Ethiopia. J Parasitol Res 2022; 2022:8210160. [PMID: 35677390 PMCID: PMC9170501 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8210160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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