A Comparison of the Colonic Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compound Metabolome of Anoplocephala perfoliata Infected and Non-Infected Horses: A Pilot Study

Anoplocephala perfoliata is a common equine tapeworm associated with an increased risk of colic (abdominal pain) in horses. Identification of parasite and intestinal microbiota interactions have consequences for understanding the mechanisms behind parasite-associated colic and potential new methods for parasite control. A. perfoliata was diagnosed by counting of worms in the caecum post-mortem. Bacterial DNA was extracted from colonic contents and sequenced targeting of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). The volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolome of colonic contents was characterised using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Bacterial diversity (alpha and beta) was similar between tapeworm infected and non-infected controls. Some compositional differences were apparent with down-regulation of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the symbiotic families of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae in the tapeworm-infected group. Overall tapeworm burden accounted for 7–8% of variation in the VOC profile (permutational multivariate analysis of variance). Integration of bacterial OTUs and VOCs demonstrated moderate to strong correlations indicating the potential of VOCs as markers for bacterial OTUs in equine colonic contents. This study has shown potential differences in the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of A. perfoliata infected and non-infected horses. This pilot study did not control for extrinsic factors including diet, disease history and stage of infection.

Parasites in Horses Kept in A 2.5 Year-Round Grazing System in Nordic Conditions without Supplementary Feeding

Horse grazing can be favorable from a biological diversity perspective. This study documented the occurrence of endo- and ectoparasites and sought to reduce parasite egg excretion with the anthelmintic drug pyrantel in 12 Gotlandsruss stallions maintained in a year-round grazing system for 2.5 years. Feces samples were collected monthly and all horses were treated with pyrantel, the anthelmintic drug of choice in biological diversity preservation, at study population mean cyathostomin eggs per gram (EPG) of >200. The relationship between cyathostomin EPG and body condition was studied, as was horse behavioral response to Bovicola equi (chewing louse) infestation. Eggs of cyathostomins (small strongyles), Parascaris spp. (roundworm), Oxyuris equi (pinworm), Anoplocephala perfoliata (tapeworm), and Gasterophilus spp. (botfly) were detected at least once during the trial. Excretion of cyathostomin eggs was highest during summer–autumn and increased year-on-year. No relationship was found between cyathostomin EPG and body condition. Infestation with B. equi did not affect the number of scratching sessions compared with unaffected horses. Therefore, in this year-round grazing system, pyrantel treatment had to be complemented with moxidectin to reduce excretion of cyathostomin eggs, thus compromising biological diversity.

Caracterización de endo y ectoparásitos en équidos sacrificados para consumo humano

Introducción: el parasitismo es uno de los principales problemas de salud y producción animal en Colombia, como lo es en otros países de la región; por lo tanto, es importante identificar aquellos más frecuentes con el propósito de considerar estrategias de prevención y control. Este trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de aportar al conocimiento sobre los endoparásitos y ectoparásitos presentes en los équidos sacrificados entre octubre y diciembre de 2015 en la Planta de Beneficio Villa Rosa, Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia. Metodología: para la identificación de los ectoparásitos y hemoparásitos se utilizaron 83 équidos, y 75, para los parásitos gastrointestinales. Los ectoparásitos se colectaron directamente de la piel y para los hemoparásitos se utilizaron las técnicas de hemocultivo, Woo, preparaciones en fresco, extendidos coloreados y Knott. Los parásitos gastrointestinales se estudiaron mediante las técnicas de McMaster, sedimentación-flotación, cultivo de heces y necropsia helmintológica. Resultados: el 31,32 % de los équidos examinados estaban parasitados con Anocentor nitens y el 8,43 % presentó infestación mixta con Amblyomma cajennense s.l. El piojo Haematopinus asini fue colectado en un animal. Salvo la presencia de microfilarias de Setaria equina en 7,2 % de las muestras, no se detectaron hemoparásitos con los procedimientos parasitológicos empleados. Se observaron huevos tipo Strongylida en 88 % de las muestras; Dictyocaulus sp. en 6,6 %; Parascaris sp. en 5,33 %; Oxyuris sp. en 5,33 %; Strongyloides sp. en 1,33 % y Anoplocephala sp. en 9,3 %. En el cultivo de heces se observaron 12 larvas L3 de la subfamilia Cyathostominae o “pequeños Strongylus” y una del nematodo Trichostrongylus axei. En las necropsias se hallaron adultos de: Habronema megastoma, Setaria equina, Oxyuris equi, Strongylus sp., Triodontophorus, Cyathostominae y Anoplocephala perfoliata. Conclusiones: los parasitismos por garrapatas, grandes y pequeños estróngilos y tenias, son frecuentes en los equinos sacrificados. Se recomiendan técnicas serológicas y moleculares para detectar hemoparásitos en estudios posteriores.

ECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORIBATIDE TONGS - INTERMEDIATE FARMS ANOPLOCEPHALID TABULAR HORSES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SAHA (YAKUTIA)

In the article, data on the distribution of anoplodsefalidosis of horses are given. Anoplodsefalidozy horses are widely distributed in the northern and central zones of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The species composition of these cestodes is represented by 3 species: Anoplocephala magna, Anoplocephala perfoliata and Paranoplocephala mamillana. Of the 10 species of oribatid ticks found in the pastures of six species, anoploccephalidae, Achheteria coleoptrata, Scheloribates latipes, Scheloribates laevigatus, Galumna obvia, Ceratosetoides cisalpinus, Testocepheus velatus have been registered as intermediate hosts. The highest reproductive activity of oribatids occurs in May-June, which contributes to the massive infection of horses. In laboratory conditions, at a temperature of 28̊C and a relative humidity of 70-80 %, cysticercoids in mites form in 35-40 days.

EFFICIENCY OF ANTIPARASITIC DRUG IVERPRADAG IN THE TREATMENT OF PARASITOSES OF HORSES

The article provides information about the new preparation Iverpradag, developed by the firm "Gudratli lukman" (Turkmenistan), which is being tested in Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, intended for the prevention and treatment of parasitosis in horses. The active principle of the developed preparation is widely known and very effective ivermectin and praziquantel (in complex). Studies conducted in Russia and Turkmenistan showed high effectiveness of the drug against nematodes including Delafondia vulgaris, Alfortia edentatus, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, Parascaris equorum, Strongylus equinus, Strongyloides westeri, Setaria equina, and cestode, including Anoplocephala magna, Anoplocephala perfoliata and Paranoplocephala mamillana, as well as against gastric larvae (Gastrophilus spp.) parasitizing in horses. The conducted studies showed high efficiency of the drug Iverpradag in the form of paste when applied at the rate of 1 dose (0,9 ml) per 100 kg of body weight.

Parasitological survey of Polish primitive horses (Equus caballus gmelini Ant.): influence of age, sex and management strategies on the parasite community

Summary An extensive analysis of the relationship between age, sex, and different types of management strategies relative to the gastrointestinal parasite community of Polish primitive horses was performed on 124 horses maintained in nine farms from four regions of Poland. The horses (96 females and 28 males) were housed in three types of management strategies: stabled (ST), free-ranging (FR) and semi-free (SF). These horses also were divided into three age groups: <3 years, 3 – 10 years and >10 years old. The gastrointestinal parasites were collected following deworming of all horses with anthelmintics containing the macrocyclic lactones and praziquantel. Totally, 66,192 parasite specimens were collected and identified. The analysis of dependence of horse infection with intestinal nematodes using sex, age and management strategies demonstrated that females had significantly heavier infections of strongylids. Young horses (<3 years old) had higher infections of Parascaris equorum and Strongyloides westeri. Free ranging horses were more infected with strongylids, Oxyuris equi and Gasterophilus intestinalis. Thirty-five nematode species, one cestode and one species of the botfly larvae of Gasterophilus were found. Diagnostic deworming examination revealed presence of Parascaris equorum in 27.4 %, Oxyuris equi in 38.7 %, Habronema muscae in 16.9 %, Anoplocephala perfoliata in 42.7 % and Gasterophilus intestinalis in 46.8% in the Polish primitive horses examined. Strongyloides westeri presence was confirmed only by fecal samples examination; threadworms were not observed in these horses after deworming. In the strongylid community, 31 species (6 of subfamily Strongylinae and 25 of Cyathostominae) were found. Significant differences in prevalence of separate strongylid species, or their proportions in the communities were not observed between females and males, or between age groups (p > 0.05). The highest species diversity (n=30 or 31) was observed in the FR horses, the lowest (n=15) – in ST horses. The FR horses had higher prevalence and proportion of large strongyles in the community, in comparison to SF or ST horses (p < 0.05).